2014 Annual Report

The strategic operational plan for the year, therefore, prioritised the following activities, amongst others:
• more robust lobbying and advocacy towards adequate funding for the university sector;
• development of a HESA response to the report of the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Funding of Public Universities;
• development of a HESA position in response to the Ministerial recommendation for Fee-Free University Education in South Africa;
• formulation of HESA’s position on the findings of the empirical Study on Remuneration of Academic Salaries;
• a transformation template for the university sector;
• the 3rd Biennial Research and Innovation Conference;
• promotion of platforms for collaboration on research and innovation with other higher education systems in the world;
• laying a foundation for a National Graduate Destination Survey (NGDS);
• advocacy towards a differentiation policy for South Africa;
• continued advocacy towards the dissolution of the Committee of University Principals (CUP), the Matriculation Board (MB), and the Committee of Technikon Principals;
• strengthening support to the university system through:
- leadership capacity-building through the Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) Programme;

- capacity-building for university registrars;
- continuous review of the minimum requirements for admission to university studies, in the context of the designated subjects list;
- provision of career information to learners aspiring to university study;
- continuing to prevent the spread of HIV & AIDS in the higher education sector, to reduce its impact, and improve the quality of life of all students, academic and administrative staff within our member institutions; and
- continuing collaboration with the DHET towards the implementation of the Central Applications System (CAS).