November 22, 2023

A peek into the future: Panel discussion on Higher Education in Southern Africa

The recent SAPHE Conference provided an engaging platform for discussion and reflection on the future of higher education in Southern Africa. Among the conference's highlights was a thought-provoking panel discussion on this critical topic, featuring a diverse group of experts from the education and technology sectors.


Elmarie Cronje of EOH, Glenda Miles of Microsoft, Buntu Majaja of the SA Innovation Summit, Dr Anselm Adodo of Paxherbals, and Prof. Ronnie Lessem of TRANS4M brought their unique perspectives, each offering a distinct picture of the future landscape for higher education in the region. Prof. Ben Anderson of the DaVinci Institute skilfully facilitated the discussion, expertly engaging the audience in the diverse scenarios proposed by the panellists.


Entrepreneurial approach

Majaja presented a compelling argument for higher education institutions to become an integral part of their surrounding ecosystem. This, he believed, would make them more aware of the importance of adopting an entrepreneurial approach in their engagement with industry. He was convinced that the benefits of commercialising more, if not all, research, was becoming critical in a creative economy where everyone was defined as a knowledge worker. This underscored the need to co-create new understandings of reality, shaping both the present and the future.


Embracing technology

In her presentation, Miles asserted that embracing technology is not a choice but an imperative for higher education institutions if they aspire to prepare graduates who can effectively contribute to sustainable socio-economic development. She strongly advocated for integrating a wide variety of adaptive technologies into the student experience, highlighting the transformative potential of such an approach. As a closing remark, Miles challenged the higher education system to take a leadership role in the AI discourse and practice, acknowledging the industry's leading role but not always from a holistic perspective.


Demand for niche institutions

Cronje's presentation emphasised the importance of representatives of higher education institutions actively listening to their prospective customers and understanding their specific educational requirements. She explained that the growing demand for niche institutions was driven by the industry's need for graduates who were 'job ready' and possessed the necessary critical thinking, reasoning and questioning skills, and competence to thrive in the marketplace. Cronje also stressed the importance of higher education institutions becoming more inclusive and accessible, noting that private higher education institutions in South Africa seemed responsive to the dilemma parents faced and accommodated students from diverse backgrounds.


Community-centric focus

Lessem and Adodo provoked the audience with the idea of 'Communiversity,' where students actively represent society through their communities, broadening the scope of knowledge and incorporating critical indigenous knowledge systems into the co-creation of new knowledge.



Concluding the panel discussion, Prof Anderson expressed that integrating the diverse yet critical inputs into a futuristic higher education scenario would indeed be challenging. He asked, "Are we ready to embrace these suggestions, and more importantly, should SAPHE play a role in promoting such a future for higher education?" This left the audience and SAPHE members with much to reflect on.

Full Panel

Revisiting the value of assessment

July 22, 2025
The Faranani session on 17 July examined assessment from various perspectives. With just two carefully crafted questions, David Maclean, facilitator and founder of Learning Advisory, created a space for lively conversation and engagement on the real purpose and value of assessment. The first question, What would assessment look like if it served learning rather than sorting?, prompted reflection on the difference between ‘assessment for learning’ and ‘assessment of learning’. Participants explored the role of continuous assessment as a compass that guides learning, rather than a tool for ranking or gatekeeping. The second question, How do we truly know when learning has occurred at the deepest level?, encouraged participants to share personal experiences and teaching practices that reveal meaningful learning beyond surface-level achievement. The session reframed assessment by focusing on its potential to enhance learning and support development, moving beyond its traditional role as a final evaluation tool.  Embodying the spirit of a wisdom circle, the Faranani session offered space for collective reflection, shared insights, and mutual learning.

SAPHE launches research CoP

July 17, 2025
SAPHE’s first Research Community of Practice (CoP) meeting took place on Monday, 30 June, marking an important step toward strengthening research capacity and collaboration within private higher education. As research is a core pillar of higher education, SAPHE members welcomed the opportunity to engage on research-related matters. The first session focused on supporting those who have made submissions for the upcoming SAPHE Conference. A highlight of the session was a presentation on the use of AI in research. From sparking ideas to helping with literature reviews and writing, AI was framed as a powerful research tool, similar to a calculator for a mathematician or a camera for a photographer. But, the message was clear: AI can assist, but the researcher remains the author!  True to the spirit of a Community of Practice, this new SAPHE initiative creates a collaborative space for sharing, questioning, and growing together. We look forward to many more engagements as this CoP evolves.

Strengthening QA through collaboration

By Sibusiso Ngidi • June 17, 2025
The imaginative and metaphorical title of our recent Quality Assurance Community of Practice (QA CoP) meeting, Shared spellbook: Unlocking the magic of collective wisdom, beautifully captured the spirit of the event and the collaborative energy among QA professionals from SAPHE member institutions. Leading the conversation, Dr Franzél du Plooy-Cilliers invited participants to reflect on the unique value that emerges when ideas, knowledge, and experiences are shared. Collaboration in QA doesn’t just foster innovation—it challenges complacency, inspires ongoing improvement, and raises the quality bar across institutions. The ripple effects are powerful: Not only do individual PHEIs benefit from stronger practices, but the entire higher education sector is elevated through shared commitment to quality-assured education. During the session, participants discussed common challenges, such as limited staff engagement in QA processes and the need for integrated workflows that support shared values and a common understanding. Looking ahead, key themes were identified for future QA CoP engagements. Plans are already underway for the next meeting on 14 August, where the community will continue "writing the shared spellbook" - sharing insights and best practices to improve quality. Together, the CoP is shaping a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation—one "spell" at a time.