Nature of committees and appointment criteria

Committees of Council

[ 1 ] Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC)

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.

Nominees 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:

A high level knowledge and experience of higher education, some of which should be in a senior management role in the Post School Education and Training (PSET) and/or related sectors; alternatively, in governmental, non-governmental or industry sectors related to PSET;
An understanding of the challenges of transformation in the PSET sector or society more generally;
A sound understanding of quality assurance and related challenges PSET and/or developments internationally;
Ability to critique and contribute conceptual depth to the methods and approaches of the CHE;
Knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in higher education and the learning design implications thereof;
Ability to make sound and consistent judgements against the criteria for institutional reviews, accreditation and national reviews;
A minimum qualification of a Master’s degree with extensive experience in PSET or related sectors. A PhD will be a recommendation;
Compliance with any other requirements as determined by the CHE.

Sub-Committees of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC)

1.1 ) National Standards and Reviews Committee (NSRC)

The NSRC is constituted as a Committee of the HEQC in respect of its duties and responsibilities, and as a committee of the HEQC in respect of all other duties and responsibilities assigned to it by the HEQC. The NSRC is a specialist committee that supports the HEQC work in the area of programme reviews. Its main tasks are to:

Recommend to the HEQC possible areas of national reviews;
Evaluate draft reports for their consistency and tone before they are sent to higher education institutions for comment;
Analyse institutional improvement plans for their coverage and thoroughness in addressing the programme review recommendations. If necessary, concerns are forwarded to the HEQC for its consideration;
To review progress reports to confirm that improvement plans have been implemented and completed. The Committee, on the basis of the accreditation awarded to an institution, recommends to the HEQC either that the review process can be concluded, or that further engagement with an institution is required;
- Support and advise on the efficient and effective implementation of the HEQC national review system;
- Raise systemic issues which may arise out of the national review process for the attention of the HEQC;
- Comment on the draft state of provision document and draft qualification standards before they are finalized; and
- Make recommendations on the outcomes of the national review process to the HEQC.

Nominees who meet several of the following criteria will be considered for appointment as members of the NSRC for a period of three years and they can serve for a maximum of two terms:

Competent persons drawn from higher education institutions.
Discipline experts with experience of teaching and research in the relevant discipline.

Persons with the following skills:
Management experience
Academic governance experience
Teaching and learning expertise
Knowledge of accreditation and quality assurance

1.2 ) Institutional Audits Committee (IAC)

The IAC is a specialist sub-committee of the HEQC that supports the HEQC work in the area of institutional audits and quality enhancement. It monitors, supports, guides and quality assures the efficient and effective implementation of the HEQC institutional audits and quality enhancement processes.

In relation to institutional audits, the main functions of the IAC are to:

Critically analyse institutional audits documentation.
Request additional or revised documentation from institutions where necessary.
Recommend support or development activities where they are needed in order for an institution to adequately address the recommendations arising from an audit.
Recommend the closing of an institutional audit to the HEQC when the audit recommendations have all been adequately addressed.
Identify the need for auditing of individual institutions or particular aspects of one or more institutions.

In relation to quality enhancement, the main functions of the IAC are to:

To quality assure the Quality Enhancement Project.
Ensure the integrity of the Quality Enhancement Project.
Monitor the implementation of the Quality Enhancement Project.
Receive reports on the activities of the Quality Enhancement Project and provide feedback, guidance and advice.

The IAC also notifies the HEQC of systemic issues that need to be addressed arising from both audit and quality enhancement activities.

Nominees who meet several of the following criteria will be considered for appointment as members of the IAC for a period of three years and they can serve for a maximum of two terms:

Persons with collective expertise in the areas of institutional management, planning and finance, teaching and learning, student affairs, management of research and community engagement.
A senior manager/academic from a private higher education institution.

1.3 ) Accreditation Committee (AC)

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:

Consider the programme accreditation applications submitted by public and private higher education institutions and make recommendations to the HEQC as to whether the programmes should be accredited or not, including recommending the conditions to be attached.
Consider institutional representations in relation to the outcomes of the accreditation process and make recommendations to the HEQC in this regard.
Advise the HEQC on systemic issues which may arise out of the accreditation process, including the impact of relevant policies on programme accreditation.
Advise on the efficient and effective implementation of the HEQC Accreditation Framework and Criteria.

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 three years, and they can serve for a maximum of two terms.

1.4 ) Executive Committee of the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC EXCO)

Members of the Executive Committee of the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC EXCO) are drawn from the members of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC)

[ 2 ] Executive Committee of Council (EXCO)

Members of the Executive Committee of Council (EXCO) are drawn from the members of the Council on Higher Education.

[ 3 ] Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC)

Members of the Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC) are drawn from the members of the Council on Higher Education

[ 4 ] Audit and Risk Committee (ARC)

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:

Integrity;
Independence;
Recognition of Audit and Risk Committee’s significant role;
Dedication of time and energy;
Understanding of the CHE’s business, products and services;
Knowledge of the Council’s risks and controls and the ability to offer insights;
Willingness to offer new and different perspectives and constructive suggestions.

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.

[ 5 ] ICT Committee of Council (ICTCoC)

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; one member 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.

[ 6 ] Human Resources and Remuneration Committee (HRRC)

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:

To develop and recommend to the Council an appropriate Remuneration and Benefits Policy for the organisation. This policy should contain all the Council on Higher Education elements required to empirically guide the work of the HRRC in terms of good remuneration governance and management and should serve to guide remuneration changes during the normal course of operations.
To approve mandates for overall annual organisational remuneration increments in consultation with the Chairperson of the Council and in accordance with institutional affordability, appropriate market comparisons, and the principles of remuneration differentials between and within grades.
To approve and oversee the development and implementation of a credible and an appropriate Performance Management system within the organisation and to ensure that the principles of this system are applied throughout the organisation, in line with the aspirations of the Council on Higher Education’s values, culture, vision and mission.
To ratify or recommend to EXCO all performance management moderation outcomes including rewards.
To annually review the grading mechanisms and remuneration structures for the organisation and make appropriate recommendations to the Council.
To ensure the development and monitoring of a recruitment and retention strategy, in particular, for the Top Management, Programme Directors, Chief Financial Officer and senior managers.
To ensure the development and monitoring of the organisation’s employment equity strategy;
To ensure the development and monitoring of a comprehensive Staff development and training strategy, including the allocation of resources to support the strategy;
Review major changes in the organisational structure and development of management as proposed by the CEO.
Ensure good governance in respect of remuneration policies, benefits and practices;
Identify and manage Human Resources risks;
Ensure that CHE’s Human Resources policies, procedures and systems are aligned with best practice;
Ensure compliance with all the relevant Human Resources legislation.
To make any other recommendations to Council as and when required that have a bearing on Human Resources and Remuneration matters for the organisation.

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.

[ 7 ] Monitoring, Research and Advice Committee (MRAC)

Members of the Monitoring, Research and Advice Committee (MRAC) are drawn from the members of the Council on Higher Education however, if necessary, the Council on Higher Education may appoint an external person to be part of Monitoring, Research and Advice Committee (MRAC).