The Role of Universities in Promoting Intellectual Security: A Study on a Sample of University of South Africa Students

The intellectual security is a necessary condition in order to develop critical thinking and independent thinking, students will be able to face the complicated modern global problems. In the wake of the rapid societal and ideological changes, universities and colleges are becoming more important in the processes of ensuring the cognitive resilience of the students in the academic setting. Thus, the key aspect of the current research is whether universities play a crucial role in fostering intellectual security among a sample of University of South Africa students.. Accordingly, this study explores the importance of universities in ensuring intellectual security among a sample of students of the University of South Africa. A descriptive research design was employed, using a random sample survey of 60 students from University of South Africa during the 2025 academic year. The findings revealed a high level of awareness of intellectual security among university students. Additionally, the results indicated no significant differences between male and female students in their levels of intellectual security. The study recommends conducting further research to develop social policies that support the advancement of intellectual security across various societal sectors. The undergraduate phase is particularly critical in shaping a student’s intellectual and personal identity, as it is a period during which young people are exposed to numerous influences—including family, university environment, social media, and digital platforms—all of which play a pivotal role in strengthening intellectual security.