Filling the Knowledge gap: How Relevant is University Programmes to Industry Needs?

The past two decades have seen a proliferation of publications debating the roles of Human Resource Management (HRM) practitioners in the South African work context. These publications highlighted a great deal of confusion and uncertainty relating to the contributions of HRM practitioners in the workplace. Higher Education Institutions should therefore examine their roles and academic programmes to ensure that a new generation of HRM practitioners are adequately prepared and relevant for the workplace. The main objective of this research was to analyse the content of the undergraduate HRM programmes as currently being offered at a merged South African Higher Education Institution. This research first aimed to analyse the similarities and differences between the programmes. Secondly this research aimed to compare the curricula of the merged institution with the undergraduate HRM curricula of other South African HEIs. Finally this research aimed to determine the extent to which the programme contents are in line with the competency requirements for HRM practitioners in the workplace. A case study approach was followed in this research. This case involved the comparison of three undergraduate programs focusing on HRM in a merged higher education institution. In addition the programmes of the current institution were also compared with seven other South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that offer a Bachelors Degree in HRM. The institutions were chosen based on their access and availability of information as well as their status in the field of HRM. These HEIs also represented newly formed South African comprehensive universities as well as traditional higher education institutions. Curriculum data such as yearbooks and subject guides were analysed. The findings for the merged institution showed that the undergraduate programme in HRM differed significantly in terms of the content offered. This presents some significant challenges in the alignment of programmes across the three campuses of the institution which is a requirement of the Department of Higher Education and Teaching. Students are thus unable to move between the three campuses in terms of studying HRM. Only one campus offers HRM on all three year levels whereas the other two campuses seem to focus more on Labour Relations. This is limiting the students on the latter campuses in terms of pursuing a further professional career in HRM. Similar results were observed between the HRM programme offerings of the other HEIs. The knowledge contents of the current HRM programmes only meet the new competency requirements for HRM professionals to some extent.