Records management as a constituent of corporate governance in higher education institutions: a case study of Walter Sisulu University

Abstract

Records management promotes good corporate governance, as it ensures that an institution such as a university is effectively and efficiently governed and accountable to its stakeholders, which include students, staff, board members, and the community it serves. Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has been plagued by poor governance, which has resulted in the institution being placed under administration. Proper records management might have assisted the institution in efficiently managing its information, fulfilling its mandate, protecting itself from litigation, preserving corporate memory, and fostering accountability and good governance. Transparency and accountability can only be achieved if there is a policy that guides the management of records.