1. Council on Higher Education: Annual Report 2010-2011 Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training 12 October 2010

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Monitoring: State of Higher Education – Indicator project initiated in January 2010. 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

7. 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.

8. 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 2011. Second Cycle Framework finalised: focus on teaching & learning – pilots in late 2012.

9. Programme Accreditation Accreditation of new programmes – 248 assessed; 130 private provider programmes evaluated for re- accreditation. Alignment of existing programmes – apprx. 20 000 with HEQF; implementation plan finalised; time-frame 2012- 2014.

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

11. Qualifications Framework Review of HEQF:  20 submissions received -end of November 2010.  Revised HEQF finalised and submitted to Minister for gazetting for public comment. Standards setting: Framework finalised for consultation; pilots in mid-2012.

12. 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

13. Employee Turnover Occupancy Profile

14. Corporate Services Race Profile Gender Profile

15. Financial Statements AG – 3 key findings: (i)Irregular Expenditure: R6, 211 824 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: R5 905.72 re: SARS interest and penalties for late payment of taxes. (i)Late and incorrect submission of financial statements.

16. Income 2010-2011

17. Expenditure 2010-2011

18. Consulting Fees Programme Accreditation Evaluators R1 573 165 (33%) Institutional Audit Report Writers & Panel Honoraria 906 068 (19%) SASSE Project and LL.B Survey 710 418 (15%) HEQCIS (SAQA) 633 000 (13%) Other (Seconded staff/payroll system) 987 893 (21%) R4 810 544