Blog Layout
July 31, 2023

Aros inaugurates New Principal

The inauguration of Prof Kobus Mentz as the new CEO of Aros on 20th July 2023 was a celebratory event, marking a new era in the institution's journey.


The event was attended by several key figures in Higher Education and renowned academics, including Prof Gerrit Smit of the AP Akademie, Ms Liana van Rooy, registrar at Akademia, Dr Daan Potgieter, CEO at AON, Dr Jaco Deacon, CEO at FEDSAS, Dr Louis Swanepoel, president of SAOU, and Mr Chris Klopper, outgoing CEO of SAOU.


Prof Mentz is an exceptional educator with a long and illustrious career in the field. For over 30 years, he has been involved in education and the development of teaching/learning materials at various levels and capacities at former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) and North-West University (NWU).


As a seasoned researcher, Prof Mentz has published more than 30 articles in accredited scholarly journals, supervised numerous master's and doctoral students, delivered 35 papers at national and international conferences, and has been invited as a guest speaker at conferences in Canada and China. He has also received an award for excellence in teaching from the NWU.


Throughout his career, Prof Mentz has held various management and leadership positions. Most recently, at the end of May 2023, he stepped down as the director of the School of Professional Studies in Education at NWU.



Earlier this year, Aros launched its new campus in Montana Park, Pretoria, and the Aros community expressed their excitement to welcome Prof Mentz as CEO to their new home.

City skyline

Prof Kobus Mentz

Button

Birthday Sparks

Chantal Snyman, Aros registrar, and  Prof Kobus Mentz, Aros CEO

Button

Fashion Magazine

Prof Paul Kruger, Chair of the Aros Council, congralutates Prof Kobus Mentz on his new position 

Button

Blurred Lines

The newly launched Aros campus in Montana Park, Pretoria

Button

First SAPHE Community of Practice Launched!

February 21, 2025
“Let’s work together, share, and learn from one another!”—This spirit of collaboration set the tone for the launch of SAPHE’s first Community of Practice (CoP) on 12 February. Dedicated to professionals in Library and Information Services (LIS) at SAPHE member institutions, the CoP kicked off with an engaging event attended by around 60 participants. When the idea of establishing CoPs was discussed at the SAPHE member meeting, it was no surprise that LIS staff led the way. Their dynamic and interactive workshop in 2024 laid the groundwork for what is now a formal platform for discussions, knowledge-sharing, workshops, and collective problem-solving. The LIS CoP will be led by Lianda Coetzer (Akademia), supported by team members Irvine Kadzenga (The IIE), Michelle Coates (IMM Graduate School), Unathi Solora (The IIE), and Nqobile Ndlovu (Cornerstone).  We look forward to the impact this CoP will have in fostering collaboration and innovation in LIS!

Celebrating the success of the matric class of 2024

January 22, 2025
The Association for South African Private Higher Education (SAPHE) proudly congratulates the matric class of 2024 on achieving a remarkable 87.3% pass rate, the highest ever recorded. This accomplishment includes an impressive 47.8% Bachelor’s pass rate, opening pathways for 337 158 matriculants to pursue Bachelor studies. As they begin an exciting new chapter, SAPHE invites them to consider the diverse opportunities within South Africa’s private higher education sector. Exploring private higher education Why choose private higher education? Private higher education institutions (PHEIs) offer a range of compelling advantages: Responsive and relevant: PHEIs are renowned for their responsiveness to market demands, ensuring that graduates possess the skills and knowledge most employers seek. Flexible learning options: Whether students prefer part-time, full-time, contact, online, or blended learning formats, PHEIs provide flexible options to accommodate individual circumstances. Tailored education: From large multidisciplinary institutions to niche providers specialising in fields like business, IT, creative design, and more, PHEIs cater to a wide range of interests and career goals. Affordability: Contrary to popular belief, PHEIs offer many cost-sensitive programme options, making quality education accessible to a broader student base. Personalised learning: Smaller class sizes at many PHEIs foster a more personal and engaged learning environment, facilitating a smoother transition from school to tertiary education.  Quality Assurance and Accreditation All PHEIs registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and offering programmes accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) adhere to rigorous quality standards comparable to those of public universities. These qualifications are nationally recognised and valued. Nancy-Anne Anderson, CEO of SAPHE, emphasises that SAPHE members are all registered with the DHET and deliver education that meets national standards. Students and parents can find a list of SAPHE member institutions on the SAPHE website, while a comprehensive directory of registered PHEIs is available on the DHET website. Strengthening South Africa’s Higher Education Sector Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, Chairperson of the SAPHE Board, highlights the vital role PHEIs play in bolstering South Africa’s higher education landscape. “Together with public universities, PHEIs contribute to the development of a skilled workforce that drives the country’s socio-economic progress,” she explains. Apply now for 2025 The private higher education sector continues to welcome applications for the 2025 academic year. Many PHEIs still have spaces available across various disciplines, providing an excellent opportunity for students eager to begin their studies without delay.

Celebrating Excellence: SAPHE Awards 2024

By Rian Nell • November 26, 2024
The inaugural SAPHE Excellence Awards 2024 celebrated a significant milestone in recognising academic excellence within the private higher education sector. As an exciting new initiative by SAPHE, these awards recognise excellence across the three core business areas: Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovation, and Community Engagement. Each category honours impactful contributions that advance education, foster collaboration, and benefit society. Dr Celia Booyse, one of the judges, noted that a rigorous evaluation process was followed. The panel developed criteria as bases for the deliberations on each submission, the reasoning for evaluation and as qualitative and quantitative evidence. Key questions guiding the evaluation included assessing whether contributions represented new developments, their relevance to education and/or society at large, the level of collaboration and cooperation involved, and the rigour of research practices. The criteria helped assess whether a contribution was outstanding, remarkable, or average. An outstanding contribution was characterised as significant, noteworthy, and impactful within its domain, representing an excellent achievement for the broader educational sector. A remarkable contribution was recognised for its originality and innovative practices that exceeded conventional norms, standing out as well above average and surpassing minimum standards Entries from Boston City Campus, The Da Vinci Institute and Tsiba secured the winning trophies in the categories of Teaching and Learning, Research and Innovation, and Community Engagement respectively.  The SAPHE Excellence Awards 2024 underscored the invaluable contributions of private higher education institutions in advancing innovation, education, and societal impact. These remarkable achievements provide inspiration and a benchmark for future endeavours. SAPHE Award winners: Teaching and Learning : Boston City Campus, with academics Dr Rob Stegmann, Ms Colette Heunes, Prof. Cobus Oosthuizen, and Dr Janet Viljoen taking the trophy for their multi-faceted entry. Research : Dr Tadi Rampai (Posthumous) from The Da Vinci Institute. Community Engagement : Mr John Durr and Mr Earl-Djehuti Erasmus from Tsiba. Runners-up: Teaching and Learning : 1st runner-up, Ms Annetjie Pretorius (The Independent Institute of Education); 2nd runner-up, Ms Riana Prins and Dr Cecelia Rosa (IMM Graduate School). Research: 1 st runner-up, Ms Jaclyn van Rensburg (Red & Yellow Creative School of Business); 2 nd runner-up, Dr Rob Stegmann (Boston City Campus). Community Engagement : 1st Runner-Up, Ms. Sarina Till (The Independent Institute of Education); 2nd runner-up, Dr Daud Taranikhe (The Da Vinci Institute).
More Posts
Share by: