Conference
About the conference
The SAPHE Conference will take place on 11 and 12 November 2026. The event offers a valuable platform for academics from the private higher education sector to showcase their research and engage with peers, industry partners, and key stakeholders in higher education.
Conference theme: Private Higher Education: Academic Excellence in an Evolving Society
Sub-themes:
- Teaching and Learning
- Research and Innovation
- Community engagement
The higher education landscape is changing rapidly, locally and globally. In South Africa, policy developments, shifting enrolment patterns, and the need for greater responsiveness to societal needs are reshaping the sector.
Globally, artificial intelligence and micro-credentials are driving new opportunities and challenges, and prompting a re-examination of the value, purpose, and delivery of education.
Against this backdrop, the conference will explore a central question:
How does private higher education advance the sector and exemplify academic excellence in an evolving society?
Venue
IMM Campus Parktown – No. 2, 3rd Avenue, Parktown, Jhb 2193
Venue Name: Gandhi, Shuttleworth, Luthuli
Public Transport option
- Gautrain Routes/ Bus details to be confirmed
Contact details
Conference Secretary: info@saphe.ac.za
Conference Registration
Online Conference Registration Opens: 7 September 2027
Online Conference Registration Closes: 30 October 2027
Member Institutions
- 2 days: R1100 per delegate
- 1 day: R700 per delegate
- 5 or more delegates from the same institution (2 days): R700 per delegate
Students – Member Institutions: R400
Non-member Institutions
- 2 days: R2500 per delegate
- 1 day: R1400 per delegate
Students – Non-member Institutions: R600
Conference Registration
Speakers
Prof Ahmed Bawa
Keynote and Opening Speaker | 11 November 2026
Private Higher Education, Being Higher Education
What does it mean for private higher education to be higher education? In his opening keynote address, Prof Ahmed Bawa will invite delegates to reflect on the purpose, role and place of private higher education, and what it means to contribute meaningfully to the higher education landscape.
About Prof Ahmed Bawa
Prof Bawa is a Professor at the Johannesburg Business School. Until September 2022, he was Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa, having previously served as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Durban University of Technology.
A theoretical physicist, his interests include understanding universities as social institutions and exploring the relationship between science and society.
We look forward to hearing his perspectives as he sets the scene for two days of discussion, exchange and reflection.
Prof Stephanie Burton
Keynote Speaker | 12 November 2026
The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Developing Talent for this Changing World
How can higher education institutions develop the talent needed to navigate an increasingly complex and changing world? Prof Stephanie Burton’s keynote address will explore how higher education prepares future generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
About Prof Stephanie Burton
Prof Burton is a Professor of Biochemistry in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and a Senior Professor at Future Africa at the University of Pretoria. She is also an Honorary Professor in Biochemistry at Rhodes University and served as Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate Education at the University of Pretoria from 2011 to 2020.
Her research interests include applied biochemistry, biocatalysis and sustainable bioprocesses, and she has published widely in these fields.
She has held several prominent national and international leadership positions, including serving as Interim President and Council member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). She is the immediate past President and a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa, a Research Fellow of Universities South Africa (USAf), and Co-President of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP).
Prof Burton is also committed to research capacity building, research ethics and integrity, postgraduate education and the development of early-career academics. She coordinates national mentoring and capacity-development projects and chairs the USAf Community of Practice in Postgraduate Education and Scholarship.
Call for Papers
We invite you to submit abstracts for full papers, work-in-progress papers, position papers, or poster presentations to be reviewed for inclusion in the conference programme.
Submission Requirements
1. Abstracts
- The EasyChair submission link will be available soon. In the meantime, please use the submission form below.
- Submission deadline: 11 June 2026
- Feedback on acceptance will be provided by 07 July 2026
- Abstracts must be submitted in English
- Word limit: 250 words (excluding title and contributor details)
- Abstracts not selected for presentation may be considered for poster presentation
2. Full Paper Submission
- Length: 4 000–5 000 words (approximately 10–12 pages), including references
- Papers must include: Introduction (background); problem statement; literature review (theoretical/conceptual framework); methodology; discussion of findings; practical recommendations; conclusion; and references
- Preferred referencing style: APA (7th edition). Guide: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_changes_7th_edition.html
- The full paper title must match the title of the accepted abstract
- Submission deadline: 14 August 2026
- Feedback on acceptance will be provided by
30 September 2026
3. Work-in-Progress (WIP) Presentation
- Abstract required (250 words)
- Full paper length: 1 500–2 000 words (5–7 pages), including references
- Submission deadline: 14 August 2026
- Feedback on acceptance will be provided by 30 September 2026
- Papers must include: Introduction (background); problem statement; literature review (theoretical/conceptual framework); methodology; envisaged findings; conclusion; and references
4. Position Presentation (invited paper)
- 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes discussion
- An abstract of the position paper must be submitted
- Submission deadline: 14 August 2026
- Feedback by 31 August 2026
- Submissions should present a thought-provoking idea, concept, or position within private higher education that could contribute to shaping or transforming the higher education landscape in South Africa.
5. Poster Presentation
- 5-minute presentation
- Posters must be submitted in English
- Posters must be presented using a PowerPoint format (1 slide only)
- Poster presentations will be scheduled alongside full paper sessions
- Submission deadline: 14 August 2026
- Feedback: 30 September 2026
- Posters should include: Background; aim/purpose; methodology; findings/results; and recommendations
- Include 4–6 keywords at the end of the slide
Submission and Review Process
- Only staff from SAPHE members may submit papers for the conference.
- Double double-blind peer review process is applied for all submissions.
- All accepted papers, WIP, position papers and poster presentations must be resubmitted to the SAPHE Scientific Committee for inclusion in the Conference Book of Abstracts by 09 October 2026.
Submission Form
Submissions are closed
Important Dates
Closing date for abstract submissions | 11 June2026
Announcement of abstract/poster/WIP acceptance | 07 July 2026
Closing date for all (full/ poster/WIP) revised papers | 14 August 2026
Full paper reviews conclude | 30 September 2026
Full paper acceptance feedback to author |
30 September 2026
Committees
Conference Committee
The Conference Committee consists of a Scientific Committee and an Organising Committee. The Scientific Committee is composed of academics from SAPHE member institutions who, as accomplished researchers, will oversee the review process of abstracts and papers. The Organising Committee is responsible for the comprehensive planning and execution of the event, including programme development, logistics, financial management, and marketing, to ensure a successful and enriching experience for all attendees.
Scientific committee members:
Prof Japie Greeff (Chair)
Research Coordinator – Belgium Campus iTversity
Research interests: Engineering education, computer science education, artificial intelligence, deep learning, serious games and gamification.
Abri Coetzee
Research and Innovation Coordinator – Inscape Education Group
Research interests: Design and education-related fields.
Dr Carla Enslin
Dean: Postgraduate and Research – EMERIS
Research interests: Identity systems, leadership and reputation building, creative strategic thinking and brand contact strategy.
Dr Jaco Kruger
Head of Quality Assurance – Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)
Research interests: Higher education, quality assurance, academic leadership, and the Arts and Humanities.
Prof Dianne Manning
Education Development and Quality Assurance – Foundation for Professional Development (FPD)
Research interests: Curriculum development, faculty development, student selection, student engagement and Health Professions Education.
Thabo Maseakwaal
Lecturer – STADIO Higher Education
Research interests: Human resource management, business management, entrepreneurship, hybrid work models, employee motivation and performance, organisational behaviour.
Prof Kiveshnie Naidoo
Academic Director: Graduation, Research, Academic Partnerships and Collaborations – MANCOSA
Research interests: Gender development, leadership and education.
Mahlatse Ragolane
Senior Researcher and Lead: Special Projects (Academic Design) – Regent Business School
Research interests: Hybrid governance, artificial intelligence and public administration.
Prof Flip Schutte
Dean of Research and Head of the Institute for Postgraduate Studies – STADIO Higher Education
Research interests: Research methodology, doctoral education, entrepreneurship, coaching and mentoring.
Dr Helena van Wyk
Dean: Postgraduate and Research – IMM Graduate School
Research interests: Branding, corporate communication, marketing communication and higher education.
Organising Committee
Nancy-Anne Anderson (SAPHE)
Sharlene Vania (SAPHE)
