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.
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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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The CHE invites all suppliers to register on their database. The purpose of this database is to give all prospective suppliers an equal opportunity to submit quotations to the CHE.
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Redeployment of Dr D Webbstock to the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate
11 April 2012
Dear Colleagues
The CHE is pleased to announce that Dr Denyse Webbstock has agreed to take responsibility for heading the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the CHE. The effective date for this redeployment has not yet been finalised, as an appointment for the Director for Programme Accreditation has yet to be made. Dr Webbstock will continue in her current role as the Director for Programme Accreditation until the appointment of a the new Director for Programme Accreditation has been finalised. The position was advertised at the beginning of April.
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Tender
16 January 2012
The CHE has advertised for tenders for Cleaning Services, Security Services, Legal Services, Workstation Support and Maintenance, Intranet/website development and maintenance and Web-based online system development. For a copy of the advertisement click here.
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Media Statement
13 January 2012
The Council on Higher Education
- Notes with regret the recent incidents relating to late admissions at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). It is indeed a sad day in the history of higher education in South Africa that a parent has died in an attempt to enable her child to fulfil his dreams for the future.
- Welcomes the Minister's statement that he is considering the establishment of a central applications system to facilitate the admissions process in higher education. In the Council's view this is long overdue.
- Welcomes the release of the Green Paper on Post-school Education, which the Council hopes will lay the basis for addressing the need for the expansion of education and training opportunities across a spectrum of post-school institutions, including but not limited to universities.
For the full statement click here
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DHET: Call for Comments on the proposed qualifications sub-frameworks (including the HEQF) - Deadline extended to 7 March 2012
10 January 2012
The Department of Higher Education and Training published Government Gazette 34883 on 23 December 2011 on the proposed qualifications sub-frameworks for General and Further Education and Training, Higher Education (pages 51 - 90); and Trades and Occupations.
The CHE has produced a discussion document to explain the changes to the HEQF. The CHE Discussion Document on the HEQF Review and the Gazette can be found in our Publications section.
All interested persons and organisations are invited to comment on the sub-frameworks, within 45 days after the publication date. Contact person Ms L Tlou, |
4th Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC)
(1 April 2012 - 30 March 2015)
The Council on Higher Education at its meeting of 1 December 2011 approved the membership of the 4th HEQC
They are:
- Prof Yunus Ballim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand (Member of Council) (second term) (chair)
- Second Member of Council to be confirmed in 2012
- Prof Theo Andrew, Executive Dean, Durban University of Technology (first term)
- Prof Narend Baijnath Pro Vice- Chancellor, Unisa (second term)
- Prof Usuf Chikte, Executive Head: Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University (first term)
- Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of the Independent Institute of Education (second term)
- Dr Andrew Kaniki, Executive Director: Knowledge Fields Development, National Research Foundation (first term)
- Ms Kuselwa Marala, Director : Quality Management and Assurance Unit, University of Fort Hare (second term)
- Prof John Mubangizi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head: College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (first term)
- Ms Nicolene Murdoch, Executive Director: Teaching Learning and Quality, Monash South Africa (first term)
- Prof Nthabiseng Ogude, Vice-Principal: Teaching and Learning, University of Pretoria (first term)
- Prof Martin Oosthuizen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, North-West University (first term)
- Prof Rocky Ralebipi-Simela, Regional Director: Limpopo Region, Unisa (first term)
Council also agreed to co-opt Mr Thami Ledwaba, Business Leadership South Africa (second term)
All member have been appointed in their own right and do not represent any organisation or sector.
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The CHE invites suppliers to register on our Supplier Database
12 April 2012
Closing date 30 April 2012
For full information click here.
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Deciding where to study - Is the institution registered?
11 January 2012
Outside of the university, or FET college, or well-known private higher education institution, how are you to know where to study, what to study, and what the study is worth?
For full text click here
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Degree mills and fake qualifications: Don't get caught
11 January 2012
There has recently been much interest generated around fake qualifications in the media. The Mail & Guardian (November 25 to December 1 2011, p.22) noted that, "In South Africa up to 15% of formal qualifications submitted for verification are bogus". The phenomenon of diploma/degree mills is, however, apparently a lot more widespread than the article suggested.
The Council on Higher Education (CHE) seeks to protect the South African public and students by quality assuring and accrediting the higher education programmes offered by all registered higher education institutions in South Africa.
For full text click here
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HEQC aligned with INQAAHE good practice guidelines for external quality agencies
9 December 2011
On 7 November 2011 the Council on Higher Education's (CHE) Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) became the first quality agency in Africa to be accorded formal recognition for its comprehensive adherence to the good practice guidelines for external quality assurance agencies by the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
View article
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Standards Development
The CHE has released their document, A Framework for Qualification Standards in Higher Education, for comment.
Comments on the Framework should be submitted by 10 February 2012 to .
For full details please look at the Standards Development in higher education page.
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HEQF-Online and Extension of HEQF Implementation Submission Dates
The HEQF-Online is now live and is available at http://heqf-online.che.ac.za. Similarly, version 7 of the HEQF Implementation Template is also available on the HEQF-Online webpage or http://www.che.ac.za/heqf/. Institutional administrators and users will be able to access the HEQF-Online as for the HEQC-Online, making use of the same usernames and passwords.
Given the vast number of programme submissions anticipated for the HEQF Implementation process, the CHE has decided to permit two dates by when to receive the submission of HEQF Implementation forms from institutions. Early Bird submissions will be received on or before 31 October 2011. Late submissions will be received on or before 15 January 2012.
A communique detailing these and other matters relating to the implementation of the HEQF will be issued to institutions in due course. Any queries should be directed to or 012 349 3852.
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End of year office closure
The Council on Higher Education's offices will be closed from midday on 15 December 2011, for our annual holiday, and will reopen at 08:00 on 3 January 2012.
May we take this opportunity of wishing all our stakeholders a peaceful and prosperous 2012.
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BURSARIES
The University of the Western Cape is calling for applications:
There are two bursaries available to study full-time from 2012 for a research masters or a doctorate. Join a cutting edge research project on professional development, innovation and higher education provision
For full details click here
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Regional request for quality assurance consultants:
The Council on Higher Education of the Kingdom of Lesotho invites suitably qualified persons to submit applications for inclusion in their databases of people with quality assurance skills.
For full details click here
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CHE Statement on the Status of the Master of Business Administration (MBA)
3 October 2011
View statement
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HEQF Early Bird Submission Deadline Extension
The Council on Higher Education has decided to extend the Early Bird deadline for the submission of HEQF Implementation data until 14 November 2011 to allow institutions still wishing to submit their HEQF Implementation data this year to do so.
Institutions are reminded that submission is a four-step process. Institutions are required to (1) capture data onto the offline HEQF Implementation Template; (2) upload captured data on the HEQF-Online system (http://heqf-online.che.ac.za); (3) edit uploaded data on the HEQF-Online system; and (4) submit completed data to the CHE via the HEQF-Online system.
Any queries regarding the extension of the submission deadline, the implementation process or the HEQF-Online system should be addressed to or 012 349 3852 / 012 349 3934.
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The CHE is calling for proposals for the
Provision of Information Technology Services
Closing Date:
Monday 21 November 2011 at 11:00
For full details click here
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Joint DHET-CHE communique:
The implementation of the new policy on teacher education qualifications
The new policy on The Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ) has been approved and was published by the Minister of Higher Education and Training in Government Gazette No 34467 on 15 July 2011.
The lifting of the moratorium on the development of new teacher education qualifications
Read communique |
Regional request for quality assurance consultants
The Council on Higher Education of the Kingdom of Lesotho is calling for proposals from suitably qualified consultants/companies.
- Find out more about conducting a baseline survey of quality processes
- Find out more about helping institutions set up quality assurance units
- Find out more about developing
policy on higher education and strategic plan
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Media release by the Council on Higher Education
on the
Tshwane University of Technology Vice-Chancellor appointment
The Council on Higher Education (CHE) notes with concern the recent reports in the media that the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has appointed a new Vice-Chancellor despite evidence provided by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA), which is responsible for the verification of qualifications, that the doctoral qualification obtained by the Vice-Chancellor is from an institution that is not an accredited higher education institution. The University's action compromises the integrity and credibility of the South African higher education system and the degrees awarded by our higher education institutions. In particular, it brings into question the quality assurance system developed by the CHE through its Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) to enhance the quality of the programmes offered by our higher education institutions.
The CHE urgently calls on the University Council to review its decision and to restore the integrity and credibility of the appointments process.
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Call for Nominations
The Council on Higher Education is inviting nominations of people to serve on their Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), from January 2012.
Closing date: 19 August 2011
For full details click here
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HELTASA - CHE/HEQC National Teaching and Learning Awards
Call for applications
The Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) in collaboration with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) is pleased to announce that applications are open for the 2011 National Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards. The Awards will be made in November 2011.
Aims of the National Excellence in Teaching and Learning Awards
- To show support at a national level for excellence in teaching and learning in higher education.
- To generate a cadre of academics who are identifiable and able to provide inspiration and leadership in teaching in their disciplines, institutions and regions.
- To generate debate and public awareness about what constitutes teaching excellence.
For full details click here
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CHE Council
The Minister of Higher Education and Training appointed seven new members and re-appointed two members with effect from 15 December 2010 to replace the seven members whose term of office had come to an end in 2010 and two members who had resigned.
The seven new members of Council are:
- Ms Malebo Ledwaba, Waterberg FET College
- Dr Nyambeni Luruli, Sasol Polymers PTC
- Prof Shireen Motala, University of Johannesburg
- Ms Dora Ndaba, Presidential Working Group on Women
- Mr Edmund Nxumalo, Chief Operating Officer - Mining Qualifications Authority
- Dr Zilungile Sosibo, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Prof Beverley Thaver, University of Western Cape
The two re-appointed members are:
- Prof Yunus Ballim, University of Witwatersand
- Prof Magda Fourie, University of Stellenbosch
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Consultation on the Framework for the Second Cycle of Quality Assurance 2012 - 2017
Following a consultation process held with a range of higher education stakeholders on 4 - 8 and 15 October 2010, the HEQC is making available for public comment the Framework for the Second Cycle of Quality Assurance 2012 - 2017 that sets out the rationale, scope and approach for the next period of quality assurance in higher education. The conceptual and methodological choices that inform the next stage of quality assurance are based on an analysis of the insights and knowledge gained from the First Cycle of Quality Assurance.
A major feature of the Second Cycle will be a focus on the quality of teaching and learning.
Click here for the framework document, and click here for the consultation process document.
Comments should be sent to the by 31 March 2011.
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Statement on the 2008 Institutional Audit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Ahmed Essop, Chief Executive Officer
18 February 2011
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Open letter addressed to the HEQC auditors and evaluators concerning the 2008 institutional audit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
Mark Hay, Executive Director: Quality Assurance
18 February 2011
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HEQF Implementation Template
The HEQF Implementation Template is now available for download on the HEQF webpage. Any queries should be directed to or 012 349 3920.
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Beginning your Higher Education Studies?
All those wanting to register at a private higher education college or institution, should first consult the Register of Private Higher Education Institutions to verify whether the institution and programme are registered and accredited. Alternatively, please contact for Ms K Mokoboto at the Department of Higher Education and Training on 012 312 5254 or , or contact the call centre on 080 087 2222 for more information.
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CHE HEQF Implementation Workshop
On 25 January 2011, the CHE held its first workshop relating to the implementation of the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre.
Representatives from all public universities and registered private higher education institutions (PHEIs) were invited to attend this workshop and to engage with the details of the implementation plan; the HEQF Implementation Handbook; the electronic systems specifically designed for this process; and to discuss any concerns that they may have had relating to the implementation process.
As it is anticipated that this implementation process will take at least five years to complete, the purpose of this workshop was to offer a hands-on and practical engagement around how implementation will take place and to provide institutions with the tools and information necessary to implement the HEQF as effectively and efficiently as possible.
All documentation and presentations provided at the workshop have been made available on the HEQF webpage (http://www.che.ac.za/heqf/).
All queries regarding the workshop should be directed to or 012 349 3920.
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The CHE is pleased to welcome Dr Mark Hay to its Management team
Dr Hay will be joining the CHE as Executive Director: Quality Assurance on 10 January 2011. Dr Hay's appointment follows Dr Lis Lange's resignation from the Council on Higher Education. He is familiar with the work of the CHE, particularly QA, as he was employed by the CHE in the Institutional Audits directorate between 2003 and 2007. During the time he was with the CHE, he was intimately involved with the development and implementation of the HEQC's quality assurance framework. Dr Hay is currently employed as an Audit Director for the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA). Apart from his experience in quality assurance related field, Dr Hay brings with him extensive experience in processes relating to standards setting and the development of qualifications framework.
Dr Lange leaves the CHE after 10 years of service during which she has played a key role in implementing the CHE's mandate both as Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation directorate, which she established, as well as in establishing the credibility and reputation of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) both nationally and internationally. The CHE wishes her all the best in her new post at the University of the Free State.
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Communique No 1: The Functions of the Council on Higher Education as a Quality Council: Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF)
This communique is the first of a series that aims to inform the South African higher education community of the work of the CHE in respect of its role as the Quality Council for Higher Education. The purpose of this Communique is two-fold: (1) It outlines the process for the review of the HEQF and (2) it outlines the proposed implementation plan for the alignment of existing programmes and qualifications in line with the requirements of the HEQF.
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LLB Curriculum Project
The CHE has completed its research to investigate the effectiveness of the LLB degree in South Africa. The LLB Curriculum Project investigated what law graduates learn during their studies and the extent to which they are prepared for their different professional career paths. The results of the research will be presented at a Colloquium to be held on the 11th November. For further information about the project, click here.
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To request printed copies of CHE publications, please contact the librarian
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