Rwandans have exceptionally done well by bringing to the public attention the dire situation at national universities.

While universities should be run in a businesslike fashion, they cannot be businesses. Some vice-chancellors, however, see themselves and their executives as CEOs with a board of directors.

This has led to institutional authoritarianism that resorts to bullying rather than getting responses that befit a university. Universities should accept dissent and criticism.

True universities are communities dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge for the common good. Like good umpires and referees, vice-chancellors and members of executives should be virtually invisible.

Instead many are not only totally unsuited to administration, but ignore their custodial role and treat their institutions as their personal property.

Butare