Student Experience - News #Industry NewsStudent Experience - News #Industry Newshttps://www.studentexperience.co.za/blogs/tag/Industry-NewsFri, 16 Jan 2026 09:17:49 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Request for Written Submissions on the HEQSF Review Report]]>https://www.studentexperience.co.za/blogs/post/request-for-written-submissions-on-the-heqsf-review-report

Communique 9 of 2022

As part of the review of the HEQSF the CHE wishes to invite education and training providers and other key stakeholders to make submissions about the recommendations in the Report. Kindly access Communique 9 of 2022 and the Draft HEQSF Reviewed Final Report below for further details.

HEQSF Review Report

Addressed to Public Universities, Private Higher Education Institutions, Professional Bodies, the Department of Higher Education & Training, Universities South Africa, Student Bodies and Research Institutions, all Higher Education Stakeholders.

The Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) is one of the three regulatory policy sub-frameworks of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) that are stipulated in Section 7 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Act (Act No. 67 of 2008, as amended), hereinafter referred to as the NQF Act. It was published in the Government Gazette Number 36721 of 02 August 2013 as Notice Number 549, subsequently amended by Government Notice Number 819 that was published in the Government Gazette Number 381163 of 17 October 2014.

It is common practice that policies are reviewed at regular intervals, normally every five years. The review of the HEQSF as a policy framework is therefore overdue. Furthermore, in 2016 and 2019 respectively, the Higher Education and National Qualification Framework Acts, as legislation that govern the HEQSF, were amended significantly. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) released several policies after the publication of the HEQSF in 2013. The amendments to the legislation and policies have had a bearing, in different ways and to varying extents, on the HEQSF. There have also been developments locally and within the region and continent, and internationally that have a bearing on teaching and learning and qualification design and delivery in higher education in South Africa.

It is important for South Africa to ensure that its higher education system and qualifications align appropriately with regional and continent-wide frameworks and conventions. Furthermore, it is in the interest of South Africa as a member of the global community, to facilitate international comparability of its qualifications.


In September 2020, the CHE appointed a Panel to review the HEQSF.

The Terms of Reference of the HEQSF review are to:

  • Align the HEQSF to the governing legislation, including the latest amendments to the

    HE and NQF Acts, as well as to the various policies and regulations that are based on

    the governing legislation;

  • Identify and address possible conceptual and design flaws, as well as the

    implementation challenges encountered; and

  • Align the HEQSF to the relevant regional, continent-wide, and global frameworks

    and/or conventions, where practical, balancing the need for alignment with the need to protect the rights and interests of South Africa as a sovereign nation.

The report and its recommendations are based on: empirical and conceptual literature relevant to the CHE terms of reference for the HEQSF review; engagements with scholars who are researching or have studied the issues relevant to the terms of reference for the review; evaluations of and recent international developments in, National Qualifications Frameworks and related matters that include flexibility in recognising prior learning; feedback from institutions on challenges in the implementation of the HEQSF, and any conceptual and design flaws in the HEQSF that may have a bearing on the responsiveness of the higher education system; consultative workshops on the draft report in November 2021 with staff from private higher education institutions, public universities, professional bodies, and the CHE; institutions, professional bodies and regulatory bodies’ responses to the CHE’s request to submit written comments on the draft report; and commissioned research on take up rates of qualification types during the period 2015 to 2018; applications for the accreditation of new programmes by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) as part of the HEQSF alignment exercise and subsequently; and learning pathways of students who attained Higher Certificates.

The report commences with an analysis of the national, continental, and global context that the review focused on. In Section Two the Panel outlines the elements of the Conceptual Framework, which was developed to look at the current HEQSF, and identify changes to recommend. Section Three summarises the main motivations for, and details of, the Panel’s recommendations. Section Four provides the proposed revised Qualification Descriptors and Section Five summarises all the recommendations.


As part of the review of the HEQSF the CHE wishes to invite education and training providers and other key stakeholders to make submissions about the recommendations in the Report.


There are some specific areas for which the CHE would like feedback in addition to general comments on other areas deemed as requiring further consideration. The specific area are described in Annexure A.


The submissions will be used for preparing a draft gazette on the HEQSF which, after consideration by the HEQC, the public will be invited to submit comments on.


The deadline for written submissions is 30 September 2022.

Source

This request was originally published on the Council on Higher Education (CHE) website. 

]]>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 07:56:39 +0000<![CDATA[World Book and Copyright Day 2021]]>https://www.studentexperience.co.za/blogs/post/world-book-and-copyright-day-2021

23 April

A symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. This date was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books - most beautiful invention for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of humanity space and time as well as the most powerful forces of poverty eradication and peace building.

World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognise the scope of books - a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures. On this occasion, UNESCO and the international organisations representing the three major sectors of the book industry - publishers, booksellers and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a year to maintain, through its own initiatives, the impetus of the Day’s celebrations. 

23 April is a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. This date was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books.

By championing books and copyright, UNESCO stands up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, with the work across the board – from the Creative Cities of Literature network to promoting literacy and mobile learning and advancing Open Access to scientific knowledge and educational resources. With the active involvement of all stakeholders: authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs and the mass media, and all those who feel motivated to work together in this world celebration of books and authors, World Book and Copyright Day has become a platform to rally together millions of people all around the world.

]]>Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:55:17 +0000<![CDATA[ROADSHOW: Next Generation Learning with Skooler and Microsoft]]>https://www.studentexperience.co.za/blogs/post/roadshow-next-generation-learning-with-skooler-and-microsoft

March 10 - March 12

Next Generation LearnNext Generation Learning with Skooler and Microsofting with Skooler and Microsoft
3 Forums to choose from: 10th, 11th or 12th March 
South Africa: Johannesburg | Cape Town | Durban 
Registration Open Now – Don’t miss out on your place 


If you’re curious to find out how to give your school a boost with a learning platform built to handle future needs and a complete solution for school life, don’t miss out on a place at one of our upcoming education forums sponsored and presented by Skooler, Microsoft  and SIS Global. 


It promises to be a great opportunity to discover more about Skooler and their next generation of learning management systems and seamless integrations with Microsoft Office 365 and Teams, providing schools with a complete solution, all in one place. 


Network with your peers and other industry professionals and use the opportunity to explore and ask questions and share your experiences to assist others. 


We hope you will be able to join us for one of our action packed forums and look forward to meeting you. 

Agenda Items

“Skooler” Next Generation Learning platform built to handle future needs and a complete solution for school life,
  • Teacher View
  • Student View
  • Parent Portal
  • Empowering student and teachers to achieve more with seamless integration to Microsoft Office 365 and Teams, providing schools with a complete solution
  • Maximise your investment in Microsoft technology and give your school a boost with Skooler’s learning platform
  • Network with your peers and other industry professionals and use the opportunity to explore

Where and When

13:30 hrs Registration – 17:00 hrs Close
  • Tuesday 10th March: Microsoft Office, Engen House, Golf Park 3, Cape Town
  • Wednesday 11th March: Microsoft Offices, Bryanston, Johannesburg 
  • Thursday 12th March: Mustek Limited, Unit 3-5 Redlyn Business Park, Riverhorse Valley, Durban

It decision makers within Primary- and/or Secondary schools, click here to book your seat or feel free to contact Ian Bayley from SIS Global here.

]]>Mon, 10 Feb 2020 04:17:24 +0000<![CDATA[South African private university group is closer to creating a ‘Multiversity’ for 100,000 student]]>https://www.studentexperience.co.za/blogs/post/south-african-private-university-group-is-closer-to-creating-a-multiversity-for-100-000-student

JSE-listed private tertiary education specialist, Stadio Holdings says it will implement its expansion plan which includes the construction of its first comprehensive campus in Durbanville near Cape Town.

Stadio said it is is also close to submitting its application to accredit and register Stadio Multiversity as an Institute for private higher education, “a process which should be completed by June next year”. Once done, Stadio Multiversity will accommodate all the courses which are currently offered through the different Stadio brands.


The company is currently engaging with the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET) and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) to find the best way to establish the multiversity. Stadio was unbundled from the schools group Curro Holdings in October 2017 to create two focussed leadership teams and listed on the JSE.

Speaking at Stadio’s second annual general meeting, CEO Dr Chris van der Merwe said that preparations for this expansion drive includes the implementation of Unit 4, a single view IT platform which is used by some of the world’s top universities.


“Unit 4 software programmes are engineered according to and aligned with the mind-sets of the modern school leaver and should make Stadio Multiversity even more attractive for school leavers,” Dr Van der Merwe said.


The local tertiary market provides Stadio with sufficient opportunities for expansion with the number of first year students at institutes of higher learning having doubled from 557,000 in 2000 to about 1.2 million in 2016, it said.


Of this 1.2 million, only 167,408 students enrolled at private tertiary institutions.


Private enrolments as a percentage of the total students in higher education in South Africa amounts to only 15% against a global average of about 35%, whilst many of the country’s 26 public universities currently show a lack of infrastructure and the amount of state subsidies also has its limit.


Furthermore, the number of qualifying school leavers for post-school education in 2016 was 442,672 in 2016, whilst the public universities could only accommodate 193,282 first year students, it said.


“Although we do not have accurate numbers, many thousands of young people with the ability to further their education at institutes for higher education simply do not get access. This is where Stadio Multiversity aim to play a key role in the future.


The National Development Plan aims to accommodate 1.6 million students in higher education by 2030. This calls for the private sector to hold hands with the state and implement best efforts so that every young person who wishes to further their studies should be afforded the opportunity to get access to a relevant place of learning.


Stadio Multiversity will therefore aim to initially accommodate 56,000 students by 2026 and even strive towards 100,000 students over time.


Since the listing of Stadio in 2017 and up to 2019 the focus was mainly on positioning the company by acquiring quality brands and implementing a fitting organisational structure. For the 2020 to 2021 period the company will start with greenfield developments in order to establish comprehensive campuses.


In the Western Cape Stadio is on track to go on site in 2019/2020 to develop their first comprehensive campus, subject to building regulation processes, which will offer courses in various faculties.


The company also identified a fitting piece of land for a comprehensive campus in Gauteng for 3,000 to 5,000 students and the board is currently considering this opportunity. “Although aware of the current state of the South African economy, the site shows lots of potential.”


Van der Merwe said that from 2022 to 2030 Stadio Multiversity will become better established, as it is easier to market one brand.


By then, the group aims to have six solid faculties through which it can offer more than 100 qualifications. These faculties will include Commerce, Management & Law, a Graduate School of Business, Creative Economies, Education & Humanities, Engineering & Information and a Faculty of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences.


“With three comprehensive campuses and about fourteen other (current) institutes of higher learning, we should easily accommodate 100,000 students with relatively low CAPEX spent.


“We are committed to widening access to tertiary education by giving qualifying school leavers, as well as working adults an opportunity to obtain a relevant qualification which can range from higher certificates to doctorates,” Van der Merwe said.

This article originally appeared on BusinessTech.co.za
]]>Fri, 14 Jun 2019 11:05:07 +0000