August 8, 2024

Celebrating remarkable women in leadership

August is Women’s Month, and on the 9th, South Africa honours the more than 20 000 women who marched in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. As SAPHE, we celebrate the remarkable women who have shaped our country and its history. This month, we also applaud SAPHE women in leadership who champion the transformative power of higher education in their respective institutions.


We draw inspiration from SAPHE members Helen Bührs, CEO of Inscape, Prof. Divya Singh, Chief Academic Officer at STADIO, and Isabel Roos, Managing Director of Isa Carstens Academy. Recognising the potential and value of higher education, it has become the shears or tools they wield to shape futures.

Sands of Time

Helen Buhrs

Button

Nature's Symphony

Prof. Divya Singh

Button

Faces of Humanity

Isabel Roos

Button

Where did it start?


Helen Bührs's career in higher education began with a fortuitous call from Inscape, where she initially joined as a part-time lecturer at the age of 22. Personal circumstances led her to request a full-time position, and she quickly advanced from head of academics to becoming deeply involved in all aspects of the business, eventually serving as the CEO’s second-in-command. In 2014, she took ownership of the institution, transitioning from the classroom to a leadership role. Celebrating her 25th year with Inscape, Helen now serves as the CEO.

Prof. Divya Singh's path to academic leadership has had many twists and turns. Initially, she started studying but quickly realised she didn’t enjoy it and transferred to law. After completing her LLB, she was approached to consider a lecturing position. By marrying law and teaching, her career journey in higher education took off. She occupied diverse positions, from Executive Director at Technikon SA to Head of School for Criminal Justice. She served as Deputy Registrar and later as Vice Principal: Advisory and Assurance Services at Unisa before transitioning to the private HE sector in her current position as Chief Academic Officer at STADIO.


Isabel Roos’s journey into higher education was driven by her desire to elevate the standards and perceptions of skin care therapy. After completing a course in health and skin care therapy, she worked in her mother’s salon before opening her own. With six years of experience, she became a lecturer at her mother's school. By 1993, she was managing director, focusing on appointing staff with formal qualifications to provide students with credible education, ensuring their qualifications commanded pride and respect in the industry.


Career initiatives that inspire


The notable career milestones achieved by Helen, Divya, and Isabel are inspiring and showcase their impactful contributions.

The inception of a scholarship programme stands out as a milestone in Helen's career. She launched a scholarship programme in 2014 and registered Inscape Exchange, a Non-Profit Company. Inscape Exchange aims to provide opportunities for quality education to economically disadvantaged individuals with the potential and will to succeed in the creative industry. To date, 504 scholarships have been awarded and 186 candidates have graduated. “The success of the scholarship programme is measured by how many employable graduates exit the programme. Currently, the programme boasts a 94% success rate,” says Helen.


For Divya, the registration of STADIO (Pty) Ltd in October 2020 immediately comes to mind as a career highlight. As the Chief Academic Officer and a Director of STADIO Holdings in 2017, she was part of the team that pulled together the regulatory framework, structure, and strategic focus of the new STADIO HE institution. She recalls it was an exciting yet challenging exercise to merge four existing institutions to constitute the new STADIO HE. “The JSE pre-listing statement published earlier in 2017 when STADIO Holdings Ltd listed on the JSE included big commitments for the new institution, and it is encouraging to see the promises realised. Mostly, my pride and joy is in STADIO’s steadfastness to its vision and transformative agenda for quality higher education.”


Isabel says she is very proud that Isa Carstens Academy was one of the first 27 private providers to be accredited by CHE and registered by DHET. They were also the first provider in their profession to have one of their qualifications accredited on the HEQSF.


Making a positive impact


With remarkable achievements and milestones to their credit, what motivates them to continue the journey?


Helen says it's her mission to empower young adults and shift a culture of exclusion that drives her to keep making a positive impact in higher education. “I am dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to claim their space in the world.” To balance the needs of the business with this mission, she focuses on fostering innovation, maintaining a clear strategic vision, and a commitment to continuous growth. This involves embracing new technologies and teaching methods, ensuring the institution remains relevant and competitive. “Balancing social impact with business sustainability is a fulfilling challenge, and making strategic decisions that ensure financial health while staying true to core values is central to my work.”


Helen is passionate about fostering a collaborative community where students and staff work together towards common goals. “This holistic approach, focused on empowerment, inclusivity, and innovation, motivates me to drive lasting change in the educational landscape,” she says.


Likewise, Divya is motivated by an understanding of the transformative potential of higher education and its ability to change lives.

For Isabel, the success of their alumni in the world of work is more than enough inspiration for her to continue making a difference.


The future of PHE


Looking ahead, what excites them most about the future of private higher education in South Africa?


Helen’s focus is on impact. “Institutions like Inscape tackle significant challenges head-on through inclusivity, innovation, and practical application. I have recognised a growing movement towards these philosophies, what we call the Inscape Way, by other private institutions that have adopted this impact-focused mindset to enhance their societal contributions.”


Divya says she is excited to witness that private higher education is increasingly being recognised and acknowledged for the contributions it makes and can still make to the PSET system.


For Isabel, the future embraces the fusion of corporate contributions, technological advancements, and collaborative learning. She says, “It suggests a harmonious coexistence between traditional campuses and the innovative educational landscape. This promises a higher education experience that is both dynamic and fulfilling and prepares one for the world of work.”


Helen, Divya, and Isabel are three SAPHE women in leadership positions at institutions that differ in their nature and focus, size and age. While this diversity highlights the rich landscape of private higher education, it also underscores its leadership's exceptional quality and vision.


This Women's Month, we celebrate their remarkable contributions and the meaningful impact SAPHE women make towards advancing higher education in South Africa.

Leading SAPHE into a new era of opportunity

June 11, 2026
Private higher education in South Africa has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade. As demand for access, flexibility, innovation, and work-ready graduates continues to increase, private higher education institutions are playing an increasingly important role in the country’s higher education landscape. Reflecting this growth, the South African Private Higher Education Association (SAPHE) has become an influential representative voice for the sector. Through advocacy, collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and engagement, SAPHE continues to promote the contribution of private higher education to national development while supporting quality, innovation, and institutional excellence. A new phase of growth and influence As SAPHE enters a new phase of growth and influence, Dr Franzél du Plooy-Cilliers has assumed the role of Chairperson, succeeding Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, whose leadership over the past two years has made a significant contribution to both SAPHE and the broader private higher education sector. During her tenure, Dr Stoltz-Urban championed several initiatives that strengthened SAPHE’s role as a representative body and deepened collaboration among member institutions. Initially serving as a Board member responsible for the Capacity-development portfolio, and later as Chairperson while continuing to lead this portfolio, she introduced the Faranani discussion sessions, oversaw the establishment of active Communities of Practice, and initiated the annual SAPHE Excellence Awards. Among the most significant recent achievements under her leadership is the sector-wide capacity development project sponsored by the ETDP SETA. The project supported the professional development of staff across the private higher education sector and showed how collaboration can strengthen institutional capacity and quality. In reflecting on her appointment, Du Plooy-Cilliers emphasises that the role is ultimately one of service to a sector that changes lives through education. “Education remains one of the most powerful forces for individual and societal transformation. Every student who gains access to quality higher education has the potential to change not only their own future, but also the future of their family, community, and our country. I feel fortunate to be able to contribute to such an important cause at a time of significant opportunity for the sector, and I look forward to working alongside our members and stakeholders to advance opportunities that enable more South Africans to learn, grow, and realise their dreams and potential.” Collective effort and shared commitment While leadership transitions provide an opportunity to reflect on the future, Du Plooy-Cilliers emphasises that SAPHE’s achievements have always been the result of collective effort and shared commitment. “I am fortunate to be supported by an experienced and dedicated Board, an effective SAPHE management team, and member institutions that willingly contribute their expertise, time, and energy in support of the sector. The progress we have made as an association is the result of a shared commitment to strengthening private higher education and the opportunities it creates for students.” A forward-looking agenda Looking ahead, Du Plooy-Cilliers believes SAPHE has an important role to play in helping shape a more integrated and responsive higher education system. “My vision for SAPHE is to strengthen its position as a trusted and respected voice for private higher education, while continuing to build meaningful relationships across the broader higher education community. Private higher education institutions are making a real difference in the lives of students by expanding access, developing skills, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities that might otherwise not exist. As a sector, we have much to contribute, and I believe our contribution will become even more important in the years ahead.” A key priority for her term will be positioning private higher education within a changing policy environment and promoting parity of esteem across the sector. She also sees opportunities to strengthen articulation and lifelong learning pathways, deepen cooperation across institutions, and support innovation in teaching, learning, and assessment. At the same time, SAPHE will continue to support its members through advocacy, engagement, research, knowledge-sharing, and capacity development. These priorities are particularly important as institutions respond to technological change, artificial intelligence, micro-credentials, and evolving workforce needs. Building trust in private higher education Central to this vision is strengthening confidence in private higher education. “SAPHE’s role is not only to represent the sector, but also to strengthen confidence in it. We do this by promoting quality, ethical practice, compliance, transparency, and collective responsibility. By building trust, we strengthen the contribution that private higher education can make to South Africa’s educational, social, and economic development.” The future of SAPHE will be shaped not by any one individual, but by the collective efforts of its Board, management team, and member institutions. Together, they will continue to support institutional excellence, encourage innovation, and contribute to a higher education system that serves both people and society more effectively. “Ultimately, I want SAPHE to be recognised not only as the representative body for private higher education, but as a constructive partner in building a stronger higher education system for South Africa - one that expands opportunity, develops the skills our country needs, and helps more students realise their potential.”  Du Plooy-Cilliers’s vision is clear: a thriving, innovative, and respected private higher education sector that works with purpose, integrity, and collaboration to expand opportunity, strengthen quality, and contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s future.

Conversations on quality in Higher Education

May 13, 2026
A holistic understanding of quality across multiple dimensions of higher education has been central to SAPHE’s recent engagement series on the Higher Education Practice Standards (HEPS), facilitated by Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, SAPHE Chairperson and Capacity-Building Lead. As the Council on Higher Education (CHE) develops the HEPS as part of the new Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), the sector is entering a critical phase in shaping how quality is defined, interpreted, and implemented by individual institutions across the higher education landscape. These standards will play a significant role in guiding institutional practice and strengthening approaches to quality and performance. During the first series of engagements, SAPHE colleagues reflected on key areas of institutional practice, including identity, leadership, governance, and the systems that support programme design, approval, and review. Attention was also given to learning, teaching and assessment, learning environments, and continuous professional learning. Across these discussions, a consistent thread emerged: a strong commitment to academic excellence, meaningful engagement, and continuous improvement at institutional level. The series continues throughout May, with upcoming sessions turning to experiential learning, engaged institutions, supervision and assessment of research, student transitions, data value chains, and student administration.

Learning, Growing, Leading

March 11, 2026
The year is only two months old, yet many SAPHE colleagues have already dived into learning experiences they describe as exciting, enriching, eye-opening, and career-boosting. A range of EDTP SETA-funded qualifications and programmes launched in February, diverse in nature but with a shared goal: to upskill and build capacity, supporting SAPHE colleagues both personally and professionally. For those with stamina, formal qualifications such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education and the Occupational Certificate: Training and Development Practitioner got off to a rigorous start. Others opted for bite-sized learning experiences tailored to specific interests—from Research to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training , and from Power BI to Leadership Development . A glimpse at some of the early feedback highlights the impact of these programmes: Research: “We are not just producing dissertations or theses. We are producing knowledge that can move systems.” Power BI: “The practical, hands-on approach enhanced my understanding of Power BI’s features and enabled me to create more insightful dashboards that I use daily to support reporting and decision-making at my institute.” Leadership Development: “My colleagues thoroughly enjoyed the experience and returned with valuable insights. They’re feeling rejuvenated and ready to put their takeaways into practice.” Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: “It was an incredible programme. I learnt a lot and feel encouraged to incorporate this information into my personal and professional life.” Other programmes, such as Designing with AI , will be offered later in the year, promising even more opportunities to explore emerging fields and cutting-edge skills. Reflecting on these initiatives, SAPHE Chair, Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, says: "What a wonderful opportunity to provide our members with chances to upskill, grow, and develop. We are grateful to the EDTP SETA for the funding that has unlocked this treasure trove of opportunities."  2026 is off to a strong start, and SAPHE colleagues are embracing every opportunity to learn, innovate, and lead in the higher education sector.