Bauer, ConstanzeWilkinson, Annette2017-09-072017-09-072005Bauer, C., & Wilkinson, A. (2005). The pains and gains of incorporation: reflections from inside a redeployed faculty. Acta Academica, 37(2), 191-211.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6825English:The restructuring of the higher education system in South Africa forms part of the social transformation process of the South African government. The incorporation of the Bloemfontein campus of Vista University into the University of the Free State (UFS) is also part of this process. The literature reveals that strategic institutional leadership, strong governance and staff participation, together with honesty and trust, are crucial factors in ensuring successful mergers/incorporation. Incorporations have been known to fail due to a clash of institutional cultures. Communication among all parties must be open, transparent and effective, but the human factor can be regarded as the most important aspect of incorporation. This article reports on the findings of a study concerned mainly with the “people issues” within an incorporation process.Afrikaans: Die herstrukturering van die hoëronderwysstelsel in Suid-Afrika maak deel uit van die sosiale transformasieproses van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering. Die inkorporering van die Bloemfonteinkampus van Vista-Universiteit by die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) is deel van hierdie proses. Uit die literatuur is dit duidelik dat strategiese institusionele leierskap, sterk beheer en personeeldeelname tesame met eerlikheid en vertroue, deurslaggewende faktore is wanneer dit kom by ’n suksesvolle samesmelting/ inkorporering. Dit is egter bekend dat samesmeltings misluk het as gevolg van botsende institusionele kulture. Die kommunikasie tussen al die belanghebbendes moet openlik, deursigtig en effektief wees, terwyl die menslike aspek as die belangrikste faktor in samesmelting beskou kan word. Hierdie artikel doen verslag oor ’n studie waarin hoofsaaklik op die menslike aspekte van inkorporering gekonsentreer word.enVISTA UniversityHigher educationIncorporationMergers/incorporationInstitutional culturesIncorporation processArticleUniversity of the Free State