Technikon SA, Private Bag X6, Florida 1701, Republic of South Africa.
E-mail: Nogude@tsa.ac.za

Abstract

This article focuses on the redefinition of South Africa's Colleges for Advanced Technical Education into research organizations in higher learning. It reports results of the first phase of a project into the impact of national policies intended 'to cultivate the culture of the much-needed applied research' in higher education and to fill a gap left by universities. National policies were analysed and representatives from national policy-making bodies interviewed. Inconsistencies between the different policy documents, practical problems emerging at the implementation stage and views of the Technikon umbrella organization, on the progress so far made are discussed.