Council on Higher Education: Annual Report Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training 12 October 2010

Functions 1)Advise Minister on any aspect of higher education. 2)Quality Assurance – auditing of institutional QA mechanisms; programme accreditation; promoting QA. 3)Qualifications framework – development and management of HEQF; standards setting, including naming conventions for qualifications; maintenance of learner database. 4)Publish information/reports on developments in, and the state of, higher education: monitoring function.

Overview 2010/11 – period of transition: Organisational stability with appointment of new management team. Review of organisational structure and functions re: expanded mandate as QC; new structure – National Reviews and Standards Development. Focus on addressing weaknesses, which adversely impact on operational efficiency and effectiveness – revised HR policies, including performance management; benchmarking of salary structure; comprehensive compliance audit.

Overview Two key challenges: (i) Lack of systemic monitoring, in particular, policy impact studies. (ii) Challenge: QA not used as steering tool to complement planning and funding.

Advice and Monitoring Advice: No advice requested or provided; request at end of March 2011:  Establishment of a Central Applications Office.  Establishment of a Community Service Scheme for Graduates.  Role of CHE in strengthening teaching and learning. Facilitated Consultative Workshop on the establishment of a National Stakeholders Forum.

Monitoring: State of Higher Education – Indicator project initiated in January Research projects:  Survey of Student Engagement – 9442 students and 290 lecturers at 7 institutions.  Effectiveness of the LLB – report not published; quality concerns linked to methodology.  State of Private Higher Education – no formal report because of lack of robust data. Advice and Monitoring

Publications Higher Education Monitor: No 9: Access and Throughput in SA Higher Education: Three Case Studies. No 10: Teaching and Learning beyond Formal Access: Assessment through the Looking Glass. No 11: Report on the National Review of Academic and Professional Programmes in Education. Findings of the 2009 Student Engagement Survey - Focusing the Student Experience on Success through Student Engagement.

Institutional Audits First cycle – 2005/11: Focus on institutional QA policies, procedures and systems; 3 conducted – Universities of Venda, Limpopo and Cape Peninsula University of Technology; 2 improvement plans submitted – UNISA and North-West. Draft UKZN Audit Report withdrawn. Walter Sisulu University and Mangosuthu University of Technology audits completed in April and may Second Cycle Framework finalised: focus on teaching & learning – pilots in late 2012.

Programme Accreditation Accreditation of new programmes – 248 assessed; 130 private provider programmes evaluated for re- accreditation. Alignment of existing programmes – apprx with HEQF; implementation plan finalised; time-frame

Quality Promotion and Capacity Development CHE/HEQC – Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association of South Africa (HELTASA) Teaching Excellence Awards – 4 awards made.

Qualifications Framework Review of HEQF:  20 submissions received -end of November  Revised HEQF finalised and submitted to Minister for gazetting for public comment. Standards setting: Framework finalised for consultation; pilots in mid-2012.

Internal and external audit identified gaps and weaknesses in the application and implementation of systems, policies and procedures in finance, supply chain and HR. Key issues:  Lack of compliance with PFMA and other regulations.  Policies not reviewed and updated regularly, including gaps. Action plan developed to address findings – monitored by Exco and Audit Committee. Corporate Services

Employee Turnover Occupancy Profile

Corporate Services Race Profile Gender Profile

Financial Statements AG – 3 key findings: (i)Irregular Expenditure: R6, re: building renovations undertaken in the 2008/09 & 2009/10 financial years.  Condoned by Council following investigation – indicated no deliberate wrongdoing, self enrichment or fraud. (ii)Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure: R re: SARS interest and penalties for late payment of taxes. (i)Late and incorrect submission of financial statements.

Income

Expenditure

Consulting Fees Programme Accreditation Evaluators R (33%) Institutional Audit Report Writers & Panel Honoraria (19%) SASSE Project and LL.B Survey (15%) HEQCIS (SAQA) (13%) Other (Seconded staff/payroll system) (21%) R