Rationales for English-mainly language policies in teaching and learning at historically white Afrikaans-medium universities : implications for multilingual education

This dataset contains the qualitative research data collected during a doctoral study titled "Gramscian analysis of language policies of historically white Afrikaans-medium universities in South Africa. " The study investigated the rationales for the adoption of English-mainly language policies at three historically Afrikaans-medium universities in South Africa. Using Gramsci’s theory of hegemony and linguistic justice theory as theoretical lenses, the study explored the implications of these policy choices for the advancement of multilingualism at these universities.
Data were generated between September 2022 and January 2023 across the three South African universities. These files comprise anonymised transcripts of semi-structured interviews with 12 university managers, including heads of departments involved in language teaching and policy implementation oversight. Data analysis software, ATLAS.ti V24, was used in the analysis of data and the development of codes. Ethical clearance for the study was granted by the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Education Research Ethics Committee, reference number: EDU-148/22. Privacy and anonymity of participants and universities involved in the study were guaranteed through randomised coded names.