Cohesive living: exploring the value of Ubuntu among students staying in residences at a University in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Abstract

Transitioning from secondary to tertiary education is often challenging for students. Despite embracing newfound autonomy, many students face difficulties due to a lack of parental support and unfamiliar social networks in institutions of higher learning. University residences are increasingly seen as problematic and unsafe due to reported murder cases stemming from a lack of cohesive living among students. This study explored the value of Ubuntu in fostering cohesive living among students residing at a university residence in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using qualitative approaches and grounded in the Afrocentrism Paradigm, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 undergraduate and postgraduate students, selected through purposive non-probability sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and participants voluntarily provided informed consent. During the interviews, participants reflected on their experiences in university residences and how they uphold Ubuntu values. The data underwent multiple stages of coding, quality assurance and validity measures, and was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that participants have a solid understanding of Ubuntu principles, as they cited terms such as respect, humanity, sharing, and harmony to describe its values. However, understanding Ubuntu alone is insufficient, as putting it into practice presents challenges. Participants mentioned that while some students find it easy to apply Ubuntu values to cope with university life challenges, others resort to alcohol and substance abuse due to feelings of isolation or familial and socio-economic issues they prefer not to share. The influence of Eurocentric values at university residences was also noted, which was anticipated as universities often impart Eurocentric and Western ideas through the curriculum, and some students lack exposure to Ubuntu from older generations at home. The study emphasises the importance of promoting Ubuntu values systems across all spheres of an African society and recommends further research that would investigate how the current generation can impart Ubuntu values to future generations, considering the evolving world and new technologies that sometimes challenge and undermine African value systems.