The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) is a permanent committee established to perform the quality assurance functions of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). The CHE is an independent statutory body established in terms of the Higher Education Act, No. 101 of 1997 and as the Quality Council for Higher Education in terms of the National Qualifications Framework Act, No. 67 of 2008. The CHE advises the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on all higher education issues and is responsible for quality assurance and promotion.
The functions of the HEQC include promoting quality in higher education, auditing the quality assurance mechanisms of higher education institutions, and accrediting programmes offered by higher education institutions.
The quality promotion and assurance functions of the CHE are peer-driven. The membership of the HEQC is comprised of academics who combine disciplinary expertise with knowledge of, and commitment to, quality assurance and promotion in higher education and who demonstrate a deep understanding of the transformative role of higher education in social and economic development.
People who meet several of the following criteria will be considered for appointment as members of the HEQC for a period of three years and members of the HEQC can serve for a maximum of two terms:
The SCDC is a sub-committee of the HEQC that supports the HEQC in the areas of standards development and capacity development across the Council on Higher Education sub[1]programmes. The SCDC monitors, supports, guides and quality assures the efficient and effective implementation of the Qualification and Higher Education Practice standards and capacity development, the improvement plans arising from quality reviews and accreditation processes, the institutional profiles and the management of communities of practice that support this work. The SCDC performs these responsibilities in line with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF) as mandated by the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997 as amended) and the National Qualifications Framework (Act 67 of 2008). Its main functions are to:
The Committee consist of thirteen – A Chairperson (who is a member of the HEQC) and an additional member of the HEQC. The terms of office of the two HEQC members are linked to that HEQC membership. Eleven (11) competent experts with experience in teaching and research, who are drawn from higher education institutions. No more than three (3) members may also be co-opted by Council following a recommendation by the SCDC and the NGC, if necessary. The Committee must include the following skills:
The Director: SCD in an advisory capacity.
The members of the SCDC are appointed for a period of five years. The term of office is renewable for one additional term.
The (QRC) is a sub-committee of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) that supports the HEQC in the area of quality reviews. The QRC monitors, supports, guides and quality assures the efficient and effective implementation of the HEQC’s quality reviews processes, in line with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF) as mandated by the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997 as amended) and the National Qualifications Framework (Act 67 of 2008). Its functions will be to:
Advise generally on the implementation of the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). The Committee consist of thirteen members – A Chairperson (who is a member of the HEQC) and an additional member of the HEQC. The terms of office of the two HEQC members are linked to that HEQC membership. Eleven (11) competent experts with experience in teaching and research in the relevant discipline who are drawn from higher education institutions. No more than three (3) additional members may also be co-opted by Council following a recommendation by the QRC and the NGC, if necessary. The Committee must include the following skills:
The Director: Quality Reviews (QR) in an advisory capacity.
The members of the QRC are appointed for a period of five years. The term of office is renewable for one additional term.
The Accreditation Committee is a sub-committee of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), which is established to assist the HEQC in the performance of its quality assurance functions, specifically, its programme accreditation function.
The functions of the Accreditation Committee are to:
The membership of the AC consists of 29 members but 20 of such members should be from public and private higher education institutions with expertise in programme design, teaching and learning, including academic planning across the three broad fields of study, namely, business/commerce, humanities/social sciences and science engineering and technology and the different qualification types.
Members of the AC are appointed for a period of five years, and they can serve for a maximum of two terms.
There is no need to send out a call for nominations as members of the HEQC EXCO are drawn from the members of the HEQC.
The MQC is a working sub-committee of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). The MQC assists the HEQC in the performance of its function of managing the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework (HEQSF) as mandated by the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997 as amended) and the National Qualifications Framework (Act 67 of 2008). Its functions will be to:
- Providing support and guidance on the implementation of the HEQSF and CHE policies that have been developed to support the implementation of the HEQSF.
- Providing input on the development of any new policies related to the HEQSF, and reviews of existing HEQSF-related policies, and on the review of the HEQSF when such reviews take place.
- Conceptualization, establishment, maintenance of the HEQSF-online and analysis of data to provide evidence for decision-making.
- Conceptualization, establishment, maintenance of the HEQCIS-online and analysis of data to provide evidence for decision-making.
- Conceptualization of the National PQM project and guiding implementation, review, reporting and strategic use of data.
The Committee consist of seven members – Two members of the HEQC (one of whom will serve as a chairperson). Five members from diverse disciplines drawn from the sector (private and public institutions) who work with or have experience with implementation of the various aspects of the HEQSF including management of the institutional Programme Qualification Mix (PQM), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT), professions and industry. The CHE will also strive to ensure that equity concerns are considered in constituting the committee. Ex-officio members provide specific expertise related to national policy on higher education qualifications, registration of private providers, registration and reregistration of qualifications, Higher Education Management Information Systems and other areas pertinent to the work of the programme. The MQC will draw up to three Ex-officio members from:
Other additional members may also be co-opted by Council following a recommendation by the MQC and the NGC, if necessary.
The following CHE staff members will attend meetings of the MQC to provide advisory and administrative support:
The members of the QRC are appointed for a period of five years. The term of office is renewable for one additional term.
There is no need to send out a call for nominations as members of EXCO are drawn from the members of Council.
There is no need to send out a call for nominations as members of the NGC are drawn from the members of Council.
The ARC is established by the Council in terms of the PFMA, Sec 51 (1) (a) (i) & (ii) and the Treasury Regulations (TR) 27.1.1. The ARC is constituted as a Committee of Council in respect of its duties and responsibilities, and as a committee of the Council in respect of all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it by the Council. The Committee oversee compliance by the Council with the requirements set out in these Terms of Reference of the ARC. The Committee assists Council in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Committee reviews the financial reporting process, the system of internal control and the management of financial risks, the audit process, and the CHE’s process for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations. In performing its duties, the Committee maintains effective working relationships with the Council, the Management and the Internal and External Auditors. Each Committee member develops an understanding of the detailed responsibilities of Committee membership as well as the CHE’s business, operations and risk to perform their roles effectively.
Members of the ARC should not be employed by the CHE or be members of the CHE Council or the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC). Any individual employed by a firm providing services to the AGSA or the internal audit firm will be automatically excluded from consideration for ARC membership. Each member should be capable of making a valuable contribution to the Committee. Audit and Risk Committee members must be willing to commit to the following principles:
Members will be appointed for a three-year term of office, and they can serve for a maximum of two terms. Council ensures periodically that the mix of competencies, experiences and skills of ARC members provides an appropriate balance for the Committee’s successful performance.
The ICTCoC is constituted as a Committee of Council in respect of its duties and responsibilities, and as a committee of the Council in respect of all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it by the Council. The Committee oversee compliance by the Council with the requirements set out in these Terms of Reference of the ICTCoC.
The Committee inform and make recommendations to Council on significant ICT issues; recommend corporate level ICT strategies and plans that ensure the cost-effective application and management of ICT systems and resources throughout the CHE; review current and future technologies; monitor and evaluate ICT projects and achievements against the ICT Strategic Plan and; provide overall ICT governance oversight and make recommendations to the CEO and Council on the ICT architecture, and strategic development of ICT capacity and infrastructure.
The ICTCoC shall comprise of three external ICT experts; two members of Council with ICT knowledge; one member of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC); the Director: Corporate Services in an ex officio capacity; the Chief Financial Officer in an ex officio capacity and; the Chief Executive Officer in an ex officio capacity.
The three external ICT experts hold office for a period of three years, and they can serve for a maximum of two terms.
The HRRC is constituted as a Committee of Council in respect of its duties and responsibilities, and as a committee of the Council in respect of all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it by the Council. The Committee oversee compliance by the Council with the requirements set out in the Charter of the HRRC.
The HRRC assist and advise the Council in fulfilling its corporate governance responsibilities from a Human Resources perspective on the following:
The Committee consist of seven members – not less than three members of Council nominated at the discretion of the Council and two external members who are Human Resources specialists, one who must be a Remuneration and Performance Management expert, respectively. The Chief Executive Officer and the Director: Corporate Services of the CHE are ex-officio members of the Committee.
The two external Human Resources specialists hold office for a period of three years and they can serve for a maximum of two terms.
The MRAC is constituted as a Committee of Council in respect of its duties and responsibilities, and as a committee of the Council in respect of all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it by the Council. The Committee oversee compliance by the Council with the requirements set out in the MRAC Terms of Reference.
The MRAC provides guidance and support in developing and strengthening the work of the Research, Monitoring and Advice Directorate, including the following:
The Committee consist of seven members – three members of Council and four external experts. The Chief Executive Officer is an ex-officio member of the Committee. The Director: Research, Monitoring and Advice is an advisor of the Committee.
The four external experts hold office for a period of three years and they can serve for a maximum of two terms.