Strategic Plan 2020 2025 and Annual Performance Plan

Strategic Plan 2020 - 2025 and Annual Performance Plan for the Year 2020/21 Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science & Technology and Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts & Culture

Mission of the CHE The CHE is an independent, statutory, quality assurance & advisory body for South African higher education, which transforms lives in pursuit of an equitable, prosperous & innovative society. In fulfilment of its role, the CHE: Leads & manages external quality assurance Regulates qualifications through the HEQSF Is an intellectual hub for higher education research, monitoring, policy, & critical discourse Advises the Minister on all higher education

Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 The CHE has a new Strategic Plan for the 5 year period: 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025 It identifies & articulates the following 5 strategic outcomes to be pursued during the next 5 years: a) CHE as an effective custodian of the HEQSF b) Comprehensive & coherent QA system for the HE sector c) A reputable centre of intellectual discourse, knowledge generation & advice on HE d) Governance, compliance & risk management e) Sustainable, responsive & dynamic

APP for the 2020/21 Financial Year: Implementing Strategic Plan 2020 2025

The APP for 2020/21 is the performance plan for the 1 st year of implementation of the Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 It outlines: a) Implementation Programmes & subprogrammes b) Planned activities c) Outputs d) Performance indicators e) Performance targets f) Operational risks

Implementation Programmes The realisation of the 5 strategic outcomes will be pursued through 4 implementation programmes. These are: a) Programme 1: Management of the HEQSF b) Programme 2: Quality Assurance c) Programme 3: Research, Monitoring & Advice d) Programme 4: Corporate Services Each programme has several functions/subprogrammes

Programme 1: Management of the HEQSF Purpose of the Programme: to manage the development & implementation of HEQSF policies, qualification standards & data in order to meet the goals of the NQF, NPPSET & the NDP Advances Strategic Outcome 1: CHE as an effective custodian of the HEQSF (revitalised & fully implemented HEQSF)

Sub-programmes of Programme 1 Qualification Standards Development (QSD) Data Management (DM) Policy Development & Review (PDR) Partnerships & Collaboration (P&C) Quality Promotion & Capacity Development (QPCD)

2020/21 Performance Plan for QSD Activity Output Indicator Targ et Develop and/or review thresholds standards for qualifications to ensure relevance, comparability & currency of qualifications Qualification standards developed for specified qualifications, or reviewed Promote the use of the Events or projects for qualification standards promoting use of by institutions in the standards design of curricula of the Number of qualification standards fully developed or reviewed, by 31 March 2021 3 Number of qualification standards development or review processes initiated, by 31 March 2021 3 Number of events or projects for promoting the 2

2020/21 Performance Plan for DM Activity Output Indicator Targ et Develop and maintain a comprehensive database of qualifications, learning programmes, student enrolment & achievement for all HEIs Undertake verification & validation of data to ensure validity, accuracy & reliability of data A functional database holding records of all HEIs Percentage of HEIs that have all required sets of data records in the database, by 31 March 2021 75% Valid, accurate Percentage of data & reliable sets that are verified datasets & validated to be accurate & reliable, from all data sets submitted by institutions, by 31 March 2021 75%

2020/21 Performance Plan for PDR Activity Output Indicator Targe t Review & undertake further development of the HEQSF Reviewed &/or further developed HEQSF Develop or review policies related to Policies the NQF for the developed &/ HE sector or reviewed Completion of the following phases in the Complet review & further e Phase development process: 1 Phase 1: Review process Phase 2: Further development & update Phase 3: Approvals & Publication Number of policies developed &/or 1 reviewed & approved, by 31 March 2021

2020/21 Performance Plan for P&C Activity Output Indicator Targe t Undertake joint projects with SAQA, other QCs, the DHET, professional bodies & others Take part in national events, initiatives & fora on NQF, QA & quality promotion Take part in regional or international initiatives on Project reports or other submissions from the joint or collaborative projects National events &/or forum on NQF, quality assurance & promotion involved in Regional &/or international events &/or forums on Number of project reports or other submissions from the joint or collaborative projects, by 31 March 2021 Number of national events &/or forums on NQF, quality assurance and promotion involved in, by 31 March 2021 Number of regional &/or international events &/or forums on qualifications 5 5 1

2020/21 Performance Plan for QPCD Activity Output Indicator Targe t Organise and convene quality fora & other workshops for public & private HEIs, & professional bodies Compile & produce good practice guides on relevant themes Quality forums Number quality forums &/or workshops organised, by 31 March 2021 Coordinate the capacity development Capacity Number of capacity development interventions or Good practice guides produced Number of good practice guides produced, by 31 March 2021 3 1 5

Programme 2: Quality Assurance • Purpose of the Programme: to contribute towards the fulfilment of the mandate of the CHE as the national authority for QA in HE. The programme develops & implements processes to inform, assure, promote & monitor quality in HEIs • Advances Strategic Outcome 2: Comprehensive & coherent QA system for the HE sector

Sub-programmes of Programme 2 Accreditation (AC) Institutional Audits (IA) National Reviews (NR) Development of a New Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF)

2020/21 Performance Plan for AC Activity Output Indicator Targe t Accredit new programmes Reaccredit existing programmes for private higher Programmes submitted for accreditation & presented to the HEQC for decisions Programmes submitted for reaccreditation & presented to Percentage of programme accreditation applications received that go through the accreditation process & are presented to the HEQC within 8 months from the date of appointment of evaluators, by 31 March 2021 Percentage of programme reaccreditation applications received 85%

2020/21 Performance Plan for AC (Continued) Activity Output Indicator Targe t Organise & Site visits to conduct site visits HEIs to verify the capacity of HEIs to offer quality programmes Revise the accreditation & reaccreditation framework documents A revised accreditation & reaccreditatio n framework document Percentage of site visits undertaken whose 95% reports are presented to the HEQC within 4 months from the date of receipt of reports from the site visit panels, by 31 March 2021 Completion of the Complet following phases in the e Phase revision process: 1 Phase 1: Prototype revised framework produced Phase 2: Prototype revised framework

2020/21 Performance Plan for IA Activity Output Indicator Targe t Workshop relevant personnel from HEIs on the implementation of the new framework for Institutional Audits Audit the quality assurance mechanisms of HEIs Workshops on the new framework for Institutional Audits Percentage of HEIs that have the relevant personnel workshopped on the new framework for Institutional Audits, by 31 March 2021 Institutional audits initiated Number of Institutional Audits initiated, by 31 March 2021 Approved reports on completed Number of reports of completed Institutional Audits which are 100% 15 10

2020/21 Performance Plan for NR Activity Output Indicator Targe t Conduct National Reviews of learning programmes in specific subject fields & qualifications National Reviews initiated Approved reports on completed National Reviews Number of National Reviews initiated, by 31 March 2021 Percentage of completed National Reviews that have their reports finalised & approved, by 31 March 2021 Prepare & publish Published Number of national reports on the state of provision of the reviewed programmes 1 100% 1

2020/21 Performance Plan for NQAF Activity Output Indicator Engage with stakeholders to obtain their inputs on the framework being developed Stakeholder engagement meetings or forums Number of stakeholder engagement events or forums held, by 31 March 2021 Complete the development of a prototype new quality assurance framework Identify the capacity development needs of HEIs for management of their IQMS & develop a plan of Prototype new quality assurance framework Completion of the development of the new quality assurance framework, by 31 March 2021 A report & plan Finalised & approved of action on the report & plan of capacity action on the capacity development needs of HEIs Target 10 Complete framewor k Will be undertak en in 2021/22

Programme 3: Research, Monitoring & Advice • Purpose of the Programme: to revitalise & strengthen the research, monitoring, evaluation & advice capabilities of the CHE • Advances Strategic Outcome 3: The CHE as a reputable centre of intellectual discourse, knowledge generation & advice on HE

Sub-programmes of Programme 3 Research Monitoring Advice

2020/21 Performance Plan for Research Activity Output Indicator Targe t Undertake or commission research on selected themes or topics Provide platforms for fostering critical discourses on contemporary issues Research reports Number of research reports produced, by 31 March 2021 3 Conferences, colloquia, seminars, symposia Number of conferences, colloquia, seminars, or symposia organised, by 31 March 2021 2 Disseminate research findings through scholarly publishing Journal/ book publications Number of journals/journal articles or books/book chapters published, by 31 March 2021 2

2020/21 Performance Plan for Monitoring Activity Output Indicator Targe t Collate & analyse information on key trends and developments in HE Higher Education Monitor or Review Assess the Vital. Stats performance of the public higher education sector against national targets on key indicators Develop & update Institutional profiles for HEIs profiles Number of Higher Education Monitors/Reviews produced, by 31 March 2021 1 Number of Vital. Stats produced, by 31 March 2021 1 Number of institutional profiles produced or updated, by 31 March 20

2020/21 Performance Plan for Advice Activity Output Indicator Targe t Source, analyse & Responsive package advice information into responsive advice Synthesise & package research findings into proactive advice Percentage of requests for advice responded to with the submission of advice, by 31 March 2021 Proactive advice Number of pieces of proactive advice produced & submitted, by 31 March 2021 100% 3

Programme 4: Corporate Purpose of the Programme: to provide leadership, oversight, systems, activities & structures that enable the organisation to operate effectively & efficiently in fulfilment of its mandates & pursuit of its outcomes; & setting the policy & tone for good governance, statutory compliance, & transfer of business best practice across the organisation Advances Strategic Outcomes 4 &5: 4: Governance, compliance & risk management 5: Sustainable, responsive & dynamic organisation

Sub-programmes of Programme 4 Governance (GOV) Corporate Services (CS) Finance & Supply Chain Management (F&SCM) Communications & Stakeholder Relations (CSR)

2020/21 Performance Plan for GOV Activity Output Indicator Targe t Develop or review ICT policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures Developed or reviewed ICT policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures Number of ICT policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedure developed or reviewed, by 31 March 2021 Develop or review Human Resources policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures Developed or reviewed Human Resources policies, frameworks, guidelines & Number of Human Resources policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures developed or reviewed, by 31 March 2021 7 7

2020/21 Performance Plan for GOV: Continued Activity Output Indicator Targe t Develop or review financial management & supply chain management policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures Developed or reviewed financial management & supply chain management, frameworks, guidelines & procedures Organise & Scheduled & convene meetings special of the governance meetings of structures the governance structures Number of financial management & supply chain management policies, frameworks, guidelines & procedures developed or reviewed, by 31 March 2021 Number of scheduled governance meetings organised & held, by 31 March 2021 8 22

2020/21 Performance Plan for CS Activity Output Indicator Targ et Provide leading -edge integrated ICT online system in line with the New Quality Assurance Framework Integrated online CHE management information system Number of reports for the different phases in the development of the integrated online information management system submitted, by 31 March 2021 Provide an enabling & Staff training Number of staff nurturing human resources interventions training management environment offered interventions through training & offered, by 31 development, management March 2021 of skills & talent pipeline that addresses the CHE’s 1 50

2020/21 Performance Plan for F&SCM Activity Output Indicator Targe t Pay eligible Payments made suppliers within to suppliers 30 days from date of receipt of their invoices Average percentage of eligible suppliers paid within 30 days from dates of receipt of their invoices, throughout 2020/21 financial year Monitor expenditure reports are monitored & submit consolidated reports to the Number of approved expenditure reports submitted to DHET by the compliance date on a quarterly basis, throughout 2020/21 financial year Expenditure reports submitted to the DHET on a quarterly basis 100% 4

2020/21 Performance Plan for CSR Activity Output Indicator Targ et Facilitate internal flow of Staff events information & engagement organised with staff within the organisation Information shared through the Intranet Number of staff events organised & held, by 31 March 2021 Average percentage of CHE staff who visit the Intranet & engage with the content shared thereat, by 31 March 2021 Number of internal communiques & 10 75% 100

2020/21 Performance Plan for CSR: continued Activity Output Indicator Targ et Communicate with external Media stakeholders through releases, approved channels newsletters & other information resources produced for external stakeholders Functional & up-to-date website Promote, cultivate, sustain and increase strategic Stakeholder engagement Number of media releases, newsletters & other information resources produced for external stakeholders, by 31 March 2021 Percentage yearto-year increase in the users of the CHE website, by 31 March 2021 Number of local stakeholder 16 20% 12

2020/21 Performance Plan for CSR: continued Activity Output Indicator Targe t Promote, cultivate, sustain and increase strategic partnerships with key stakeholders internationally to support the organisation’s mandate Stakeholder engagement events or forums for international stakeholders Number of international stakeholder events or forums organised or participated in, within a particular financial year 4

Risk Management

Risk Mitigation Inconsistencies between some of the provisions of the legislation governing statutory professional councils, the NQF Act, & the HE Act Peer academics /experts (communities of practice) not always available to support development of qualification standards Lack of legal authority to enforce key decisions or ensure stakeholder compliance with standards, policies, frameworks & guidelines. Recommend to the DHET to look into amending the Acts to ensure consistency Develop & implement strategies for widening the pools for peer academics/experts Develop good rapport with stakeholders, including explaining the importance of compliance with standards, policies, frameworks & guidelines Long & arduous nature of quality Improving efficiency & turnassurance processes, with a risk of around times of quality assurance not being able to meet the needs processes of the HE system within short time

Risk Mitigation Dependency on peer academics, who sometimes do not deliver reports on time, on brief and on budget Tight structuring & management of contracts with peer academics Duplication of research & monitoring projects by the DHET, & other research centres/institutes or science councils Reliance on external service provider for IT systems Enter into research collaboration agreements with the DHET, or other research centres/institutes Loss of critical skills through high staff turnover Integrated talent management & culture calibration Develop internal IT capacity (rising cost of IT services) HEIs demonstrate limited or no Intensify QA capacity development desire to strengthen IQA systems, initiatives for the HEIs

Budget for 2020/21

Summary of the Budget Allocation 2020 -21 ECONOMIC CLASSIFICATIONS LOADED BUDGET Compensation of employees R 41 751 872. 00 Goods and services R 21 153 128. 00 TOTAL R 62 905 000. 00 39

Budget Allocation on Compensation of Employees for the Financial Year 2020/2021 PROGRAMMES LOADED BUDGET Corporate R 17 899 236. 00 Quality Assurance R 18 327 762. 00 Research, Monitoring and Advice R 5 524 873. 00 TOTAL R 41 751 872. 00 40

Notes on Compensation of Employees Budget The budget allocation is based on the number of employees per Programme and salary scales of each employees. The budget covers 52 funded employees from various programmes inclusive of 2 fixed term contracts for Accreditation sub-programme and constitute 66% of the total baseline budget allocation. Programme: Corporate Services has 22 employees and also include the payment to Liberty contributions for all employees @ R 63 00. 00 per month and constitute 43% of the total compensation of the employees. Programme: Quality Assurance has 24 employees and constitute 44% of the total compensation of the employees. 41 Programme: Research, Monitoring and Advice has 7 employees and constitute 13% of the total compensation

Loaded Budget Per Programme PROGRAMMES LOADED BUDGET Corporate R 12 683 850. 00 Quality Assurance R 4 763 053. 00 Research, Monitoring and Advice R Management of the HEQSF R 2 708 734. 00 TOTAL R 21 153 128. 00 997 491. 00 42

Notes on Goods and Services Budget The budget allocation is based on activities that need to be undertaken to achieve the set strategic objectives of the Programmes as per the APP. The budget methodology used is zero based and also activity based budget. The goods and services budget constitute 34% of the total baseline budget allocation and includes: Ø Programme: Corporate constitute 60% of the total goods and services. Ø Programme: Quality Assurance constitute 23% of the total goods and services. Ø Programme: Research, Monitoring and Advice constitute 5% of the total goods and services. Ø Programme: Management of the HEQSF constitute 13% of 43 the total goods and services.

Recommendation Portfolio Committee Members to note the APP and budget allocation for the fiscal year 2020/21. 44

Thank you