Conclusions from Working Group 2: (part 1) The Changing Academic Community Chair: Professor Loyiso Nongxa Vice-Chancellor University of Witwatersrand South Africa

…2… General Themes and Issues There is a contested view as to whether there is a ‘single’ academic community. Is an organisation (i.e. staff and students attending a university) necessarily a ‘ community ’? Do these contested issues provide a space for shared ‘core values’?

…3… General Themes and Issues (2) The changing nature of ‘academic staff ’ is irreversable with increased use of adjunct staff and use of graduate students in teaching. The changing student profile requires different/multiple responses from academic and non- academic colleagues.

…4… Recommendations The notion of ‘academic community’ needs to be reconceptualised if it is to have meaning in the current context. The whole of the university community (internal and external) must be embraced in re-thinking ‘academic community’. Institutions need to consider how best to internationalise the WHOLE of the learning experience drawing on the widest variety of approaches including: academic/cultural/social/ technology etc.