The South African Council on Higher Education (CHE) is an independent statutory body responsible for advising the Minister of Higher Education and Training on all higher education policy issues, and for quality assurance in higher education and training.
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The Council on Higher Education (CHE) has one permanent committee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC). The CHE's statutory responsibility for the promotion and assurance of quality in higher education is carried out by the HEQC.
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The Office of the Chief Executive Officer and the Advice and Monitoring Directorate are responsible for giving effect to the CHE responsibilities in the areas of advice, monitoring and the development of higher education.
The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) has executive responsibility for quality promotion and quality assurance in higher education.
The HEQC has four directorates:
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Institutional Audits Directorate -
responsible for conducting audits of public and private higher education institutions' systems for ensuring good quality of provision in the three core functions of teaching and learning, research and community engagement.
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National Reviews Directorate - responsible for re-accrediting existing programmes in specific disciplines and/or qualification areas.
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Programme Accreditation Directorate - responsible for accrediting the learning programmes of public and private higher education institutions.
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Quality Promotion and Capacity Development Directorate -
responsible for implementing the HEQC's quality promotion and capacity development programme which disseminates information and knowledge about quality assurance, and prepares individuals and institutions to participate in implementing the HEQC's quality assurance system.
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HEQC-online is a web-based accreditation application system that
allows public and private higher education providers to submit applications for accreditation online.
HEQC-online is available at: http://heqc-online.che.ac.za
 HEQC-online accreditation system: Instructions for external users (689Kb ~ 4 min)
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Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The Council on Higher Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Ahmed Essop as the new CEO in the place of Dr Cheryl de la Rey. Last year, Dr De la Rey was appointed as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria. Mr Essop's appointment follows a rigorous and demanding but rewarding selection and appointment process, which resulted in his unanimous appointment by the CHE.
Mr Essop who holds a Masters in International Development Education from Stanford University in the USA, is very well known in higher education circles having served for many years as Chief Director in the Higher Education Branch of the former Department of Education and more recently as an independent consultant in higher education. He also served as Director at the Centre for Education Policy Development. He is well acquainted with the many challenges facing higher education in the country as well as the CHE as he was deeply involved in most of the policy initiatives aimed at transforming our higher education system during the period 1997 to 2005.
Mr Essop will assume duty on 1 May 2010 and the CHE looks forward to many years of fruitful and valuable service in the interest of higher education under his leadership.
This announcement is made in appreciation of Dr Cheryl De La Rey's contribution to the CHE
Dr Cheryl de la Rey resigned as CEO of the CHE to take up the post of Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Pretoria from 9 November 2009.
Dr De la Rey joined the CHE in May 2008. Her knowledge of higher education, her management experience and energetic approach made a marked difference to the functioning of the CHE. Under her leadership, the advisory function was reinvigorated, several long-standing projects were brought to conclusion, new projects were initiated and the CHE purchased its own building.
The CHE wishes Dr De la Rey all of the best with her new endeavours.
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LLB Curriculum Project
The CHE is undertaking research to investigate the effectiveness of the LLB degree in South Africa. The LLB Curriculum Project will investigate what law graduates learn during their studies and the extent to which they are prepared for their different professional career paths. This study will also provide an opportunity to assess the impact of changes made to the LLB curriculum since 1998, particularly the introduction of the 4-year undergraduate LLB.
The project includes reviews of research into law education, interviews with key stakeholders and a large-scale electronic survey of law professionals, employers and academics in university Law faculties. The electronic survey will take place in early 2010 and the results of the research are expected to be announced in the second half of 2010.
For further information about the project, click here. Individuals and organisations that have an interest in legal education and the Project can register by clicking here.
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Communique No 3: Council on Higher Education (CHE), Department of Higher Education and Training (DoHET) and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
This communique is the third of a series that aims to inform the South African higher education community of steps being taken to prepare the higher education system for the full implementation of the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF). The communique deals with interim measures relating to the processing of applications for new programmes and the renaming of existing programmes.
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To request printed copies of CHE publications, please contact the librarian
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