May 9, 2025

Exploring common ground: SAPHE hosts Semesp delegation from Brazil

This week, SAPHE hosted a delegation from Semesp, the association representing private higher education institutions in Brazil. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning, collaboration, and comparative dialogue between the South African and Brazilian private higher education sectors.


The visit began with an insightful presentation by Dr Whitfield Green, CEO of the Council on Higher Education (CHE), who introduced the South African higher education landscape. He outlined the CHE’s role in ensuring quality, relevance, and transformation in the sector - providing essential context for the week’s discussions.


In meetings with the SAPHE Board and member institutions, the Semesp delegation engaged in conversations covering a wide range of topics—from the integration of emerging technologies and AI, the promotion of entrepreneurship and collaboration with industry, effective marketing and student recruitment strategies, to distance education and strong governance and management practices within private institutions.


One of the most striking comparisons highlighted during the exchange was in student enrolment figures. In Brazil, private institutions dominate the landscape:


  • 87.8% of all higher education institutions are private.
  • These institutions enrol nearly 8 million students, while only around 2 million attend public universities.
  • Among these private institutions, 65.1% are for-profit.


This stands in sharp contrast to South Africa, where public universities continue to enrol more than 70% of students. However, the private sector has shown significant growth in recent years, with the number of students in private higher education institutions more than doubling since 2011.


With more and more South African students seeking access to higher education, it’s clear that private institutions have a key role to play in expanding capacity and helping move the sector forward.



Both SAPHE and Semesp affirmed the value of such engagements to stimulate new thinking and the importance of collaboration in advancing innovation, quality, and sustainable growth in higher education.

PHOTO: CEO of the CHE, Dr Whitfield Green (right) with Fabio Reis (Semesp Director of Academic Innovation), Rodrigo Capelato (Semesp CEO), Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban (SAPHE Board Chair), and Thiago Pegas (Semesp Vice-President).

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.