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November 23, 2023

Stimulating thoughts set the stage at SAPHE Conference

The SAPHE Conference, held on 7 November at the IMM Graduate School in Parktown, Johannesburg, provided a valuable platform for thought leadership, academic dialogue, and the exchange of research initiatives. The event fostered lively engagement among attendees, including academics, researchers, and industry stakeholders, all united by their commitment to advancing the landscape of higher education.


Call for collaboration


Setting the tone for the conference, Dr Divya Singh from STADIO, the MC of the SAPHE Conference, quoted Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." She encouraged institutions to embrace a spirit of “co-opetition”, working together despite being competitors, as this would benefit the entire HE system.


This call for collaboration was echoed by keynote speaker and CEO of the Council on Higher Education (CHE), Dr Whitty Green. In his opening address, he advocated for a unified higher education (HE) sector, emphasising that the distinction between public and private institutions should be discarded. He stressed the critical role that all institutions play in the HE landscape and encouraged them to identify their unique strengths and contributions to address the diverse needs of society.


A responsive HE system embedded in society


Dr Green underscored the importance of a responsive higher education system that is embedded within the social fabric. He said HE institutions had to be cognizant of the challenges and opportunities that exist at sectoral, local, and global levels, and to integrate these considerations into their teaching and research endeavours.



He emphasised the need for the HE sector to actively participate in building a democracy and addressing societal challenges at multiple levels. This would require a multidisciplinary approach, moving away from siloed thinking and embracing collaboration.


Equipping graduates to address global and local challenges


He further highlighted the crucial role of HE institutions in preparing graduates who are equipped to tackle global challenges such as climate change, energy concerns, and food and water security, as well as local issues like unemployment and inequality.


Dr Green posed a thought-provoking question to the audience: "What is the role of HE in society? If HE is for the public good, why does the sector not enjoy the support of the public?" He urged the HE system to take collective responsibility to address this disconnect and earn the public's trust.


Championing student-centric and academic-centric HE


Speaking about the role of academics, Dr Green advocated for a student- and academic-centred HE system. He outlined the principles of the National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers and related action imperatives which include, amongst others, professional development, leadership development, recognition and awards, and knowledge production and sharing about teaching and learning.



He passionately discussed the interconnection between theory and practice in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL), highlighting the importance of scholars of teaching and learning who are willing to confront the ethical, intellectual, and pedagogical challenges of their work.

Research areas in HE


Turning to research, Dr Green expressed the need for research that focuses on the HE space. He identified a range of potential research areas, including disability in the post-school sector, educational supply and demand, and optimal lecturer-student ratios.

In conclusion, Dr Green highlighted the CHE's contributions to the scholarship of HE over the past 25 years and outlined the research themes that the CHE has prioritised.


The SAPHE Conference 2023 served as a catalyst for thought-provoking discussions and a renewed commitment to advancing the quality and impact of higher education in South Africa. 

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).

Second SAPHE Conference: A Resounding Success!

November 19, 2024
The 2nd Annual SAPHE Conference, held on 5–6 November at the IMM Graduate School, exceeded expectations, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. The event was abuzz with activity, high-level discussions, and dynamic conversations centred on higher education (HE), with a particular focus on private higher education Under the theme, Leading innovation in Higher Education (HE), the Conference featured prominent keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive workshops and insightful research presentations.

Fostering collaboration: Deputy Minister Gondwe meets with SAPHE

October 3, 2024
On Monday, 30 September, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, met with SAPHE to familiarise herself with the association’s achievements and challenges, and to foster stronger relations between the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and SAPHE. Dr Gondwe has been tasked with overseeing private higher education (PHE) institutions as part of her portfolio. According to SAPHE Chair, Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, the introductory meeting was conducted in a collegial and positive spirit. "It was clear that the Deputy Minister is well-informed about the department's priorities and eager to cooperate with stakeholders in the private higher education sector, such as SAPHE," noted Dr Stoltz-Urban. Compliance, a significant focus given the recent deregistration of some PHEIs, was one of the key topics addressed. Dr Gondwe emphasised the critical role SAPHE can play in promoting compliance and good governance within the sector. She encouraged SAPHE to establish a resource centre to provide institutions with access to documents, advice and guidance on compliance matters, to compile best-practice guidelines, and offer capacity-building workshops, peer learning opportunities, and networking events for PHEIs. In addition, Dr Gondwe urged SAPHE members to conduct employability studies, specifically on job placement, highlighting the importance of measuring the impact of private higher education on job creation and inclusive socio-economic growth. She invited SAPHE members to an Employment and Investment Summit the department will be hosting in November which will involve key industry stakeholders. Representing SAPHE at the meeting were Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, SAPHE CEO Nancy-Anne Anderson, and Shirley Ferndale from the IIE, who is also actively involved in the broader higher education sector through the Registrars' Forum, among other initiatives. The SAPHE team took the opportunity to present the association’s role and mandate, while also discussing issues such as disparities in the higher education sector and the policy on institutional types. The constructive meeting set a positive tone for future engagement. "As SAPHE, we are encouraged by the Deputy Minister’s willingness to support the private higher education sector, and we are dedicated to working with the DHET to advance quality higher education overall," said Dr Stoltz-Urban.
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