June 21, 2024

SAQA and SAPHE: A strong partnership for a thriving higher education sector

SAPHE members had the opportunity to engage with Dr Makhapa Makhafola, SAQA Chief Operating Officer, at its recent member meeting in May. In her welcoming remarks, Dr Carin Stoltz-Urban, Chairperson of SAPHE, highlighted the association’s commitment to fostering positive relationships with the regulators, aiming to create one diverse but united higher education system. The session underscored the value and importance of the partnership between the South African Qualifications Authority and SAPHE.


Dr Makhafola echoed these sentiments, emphasising the shared vision of a fully integrated higher education system where public and private institutions collaborate effectively.


As a passionate advocate for the recognition of prior learning (RPL), Dr Makhafola praised private HEIs for their flexibility and efforts to champion RPL. He acknowledged their role in broadening access and making HE more inclusive.


Looking ahead, Dr Makhafola announced a forthcoming comprehensive review of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), spearheaded by SAQA. SAPHE will be involved in this crucial process, ensuring the voices and needs of the private HE sector are heard.

Dr Makhafola covered several key issues during the discussion, such as the impending expiration of legacy qualifications, upcoming SAQA stakeholder workshops in the latter half of the year, and the importance of collaboration with SAPHE in combating bogus qualifications and exploring research opportunities.



Thanking Dr Makhafola for the valuable exchange, Dr Stoltz-Urban reiterated SAPHE's commitment to ongoing collaboration with SAQA.

New SAPHE CoP Focuses on Quality Assurance

April 25, 2025
The launch meeting of SAPHE’s Community of Practice (CoP) for Quality Assurance on 15 April was an explosion of ideas and energy. The value of a dedicated platform for members to engage on quality assurance (QA) matters was immediately evident, as participants enthusiastically identified key topics for discussion, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices. The vital thread of QA Quality Assurance is a cornerstone of higher education, underpinning the integrity and effectiveness of academic offerings and institutional operations. From marketing and student recruitment to graduation, the QA thread is tightly woven through every stage of the student journey. Engaging questions, meaningful conversations “How do we measure quality, and how do we evidence quality?” These thought-provoking questions, posed by the session facilitator Dr Franzel du Plooy-Cilliers—SAPHE Vice-Chair and responsible for liaison with regulatory bodies—sparked dynamic and insightful discussions. Attendees shared their experiences and explored ways to support one another in preparing for institutional audits, benchmarking across institutions, and embedding quality throughout institutional processes. Looking ahead  The conversation has laid the foundation for what promises to be a series of meaningful engagements as the CoP continues to grow and evolve.

Community engagement in higher education: From conversation to action

April 15, 2025
Often seen as the “stepchild” of higher education, community engagement (CE) took centre stage during SAPHE’s Faranani session held on 10 April.

Excellence in action: SAPHE Faranani session inspires!

March 25, 2025
Faranani means "working together," and that’s exactly what SAPHE’s Faranani session on 20 March was all about! The session started with a brief discussion on the 2025 SAPHE Excellence Awards categories and evaluation criteria. This was followed by an inspiring presentation from TSIBA, the 2024 winner of the Excellence Award for Community Engagement. TSIBA didn’t just showcase what a winning entry looks like—they demonstrated what education with real social impact truly means.  TSIBA’s John Durr and Earl-Djehuti Erasmus took attendees through their Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership Development experiential learning programmes. Designed to drive social, economic, and educational impact, these programmes highlight the transformative power of education. By providing meaningful, applied learning experiences, these programmes empower students while making a tangible difference in the communities they come from or will serve in the future. The results? Well-rounded graduates, thriving start-ups, and a ripple effect of positive change. Kudos to TSIBA! The Faranani session illustrated the power of collaboration, offering SAPHE members valuable insights from TSIBA’s award-winning approach. Together, we continue to shape a sector that makes a real difference through education!
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