Briefing on the CHE’s Annual Report 2008/09

Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on

Higher Education & Training

28 October 2009

Mandate Areas

• Advising the Minister (on request and proactively).

• Monitoring the state of the higher education system and the achievement of policy objectives.

• Quality assurance and quality promotion: The work of the HEQC

• Contribute to the development of higher education.

• Functioning as the Quality Council for higher education – Standard generation(w.e.f June 2009)

2

Advising the Minister2008-2009

The CHE meets with the Minister from time to time

Ongoing discussions with the Department

Requests for advice and proactive advice During 2008/09 the advisory function was reviewed and revitalized

Outcome of the review is a more diverse strategy for providing advice including development of a capability

to provide advice within a shortened timeframe.

3

Advice

• Advice was provided on…– A draft policy on distance education– An amended policy on funding for public higher

education– Institutional autonomy and academic freedom

• Work was done to inform advice on…– The undergraduate curriculum (the 4 year degree)– Universities of technology and the HEQF– Community engagement– Rural-based higher education

Monitoring• More systematic collection of information• Development of a Monitoring Framework for Higher

Education• HEQCIS developed and implemented to collect data

from private institutions• Institutional profiles ( to inform audits)

– for UNISA, NMMU, UKZN and NWU• Publications

– Service-learning in the disciplines– Academic freedom, institutional autonomy and public

accountability in South African higher education– Postgraduate studies in South Africa

Programme Accreditation

The main responsibility is the accreditation of new higher education programmes that public and private providers of higher education wish to offer. During 2008/9:

130 new higher education programmes submitted by public and private providers of higher education were assessed. The success rate was 93% and 58% respectively.

Started the process to re-accredit 48 private providers.

6

National Reviews

Re-accreditation of existing programmes in a disciplinary area

Peer review process using HEQC criteria

All Programmes subject to conditions were followed up.

Programmes affected during the period under review are:• 10 Programmes that are being phased out (Teach-out Plans)• 7 Improvement plans for the M Ed• 14 Improvement plans for ACE, B Ed and PGCE

7

Institutional Audits

Achievements during 2008/09:

• Fifth year of successful implementation of the first cycle of HEQC audits

• Conducted five audits at HEI’s (University of Forth Hare, University of South Africa, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, University of KwaZulu-Natal and North-West University.)

• Five audit reports approved: Tshwane University of Technology, University of Pretoria, Durban University of Technology, University of the Western Cape and the independent Institute of Technology.

• Two Audit Readiness workshops with institutions to be audited from 2009 – 2011

• 11 Improvement Plans analyzed

8

Quality Promotion and Capacity DevelopmentActivities during 2008/09:

• Commissioned a Baseline Study to examine the nature, extent and quality of student participation in quality assurance at the HEI sector.

• Implementation of the Student Participation Project, the Student Website and banners that form part of a student portal.

• Two Quality Assurance Forums (National Reviews Seminar for public providers and a Quality Forum for private providers).

• Trained 55 Auditors, 29 Senior members of staff of HEIs to be audited and 140 Programme Evaluators.

• Successfully concluded the Quality Systems Restructuring Project (Finland and South Africa Cooperative Programme).• Engagement with various statutory bodies/professional councils on the

coordination of quality assurance in HE.(HPCSA, SAICA, SACSSP).

9

Delegation of Stipulated Quality Assurance Functions to HEI’s

According to the SAQA Act of 1995, the HEQC has responsibility for quality assurance arrangements in the following areas: short courses, training in assessment, moderation of assessment, RPL and Certification arrangements. Achievements 2008/09:

• Completed the HEQC Framework for Delegated Functions• Delegated responsibility to 12 institutions. (Central University of

Technology, Centurion Akademie, City Varsity, Da Vinci Institute of Management & Technology, Helderberg College, Mancosa, Monash SA, PC Training & Business College, Rhodes University, University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch and Vaal University of Technology.

10

Finance and HR

• Statement of Financial Position• Statement of Financial Performance• Cash Flow Statement• Detailed Expenditure• HR profiles• Performance indicators

CHE Staff: Race Profile

CHE Staff: Gender Profile

CHE Staff: Vacancy Profile

CHE Performance Indicators

Mandate Area Performance Indicator Number

Advice Advising the Minister 4

Quality Assurance New programmes assessed 130

Quality Assurance Programmes re-accredited 259

Quality Assurance Audits conducted 5

Quality Assurance Improvement plans analysed (I-audit) 11

Advice & Monitoring

Projects concluded 2

Development of HE New Publications 2

Conclusion

The Council and all its committees, including its permanent committee responsible for quality assurance, the HEQC, have functioned effectively in terms of our statutory mandate and adherence to principles of good governance.

We look forward to working with the new Department of Higher Education and Training in a policy framework that takes an integrated approach to post-school education and training.

23