The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has concluded its Strategic Reflection Workshop with a panel discussion of stakeholders examining the performance of the post-school education and training system and how well the Department meets the needs of the sector.
The final stakeholder panel featured representations from the TVET Colleges Governors Council (TVETCGC), Universities South Africa (USAf), the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the Public Service Education and Training Authority (PSETA).
The discussions formed part of wider reflection on DHET’s role, institutional capabilities and ability to respond to changing demands across the post-school education and training (PSET) system.
Stakeholders Review DHET’s Ability to Respond to Sector Needs
The stakeholder panel provided a platform for representatives of different parts of the higher education and training sector to reflect on the performance of DHET.
Discussions focused on the potential gap that can exist between developing policies through consultation with stakeholders, and ensuring that those policies are effective when put into practice.
This is an important issue, since policies need to result in tangible benefits for institutions, students and staff.
DHET suggested that it continues exploring ways to ensure a strong connection between policy development and implementation.
Addressing the Expanding Demand for Higher Education
One of the issues reviewed during the workshop was the issue of access to higher education institutions.
Addressing expanding demand is an important issue within the PSET system as need for post-school education grows.
While the focus was on ensuring more students being able to enter institutions, the need to consider the capacity of institutions and the provision of relevant resources is an equally important discussion.
Improving access to higher education therefore needs to go hand in hand with addressing institutional capacity and resource allocation as well as the quality of education and training.
The Changing Face of Students and Staff
Senior managers also reflected on the changing face of students and staff within the higher education sector.
The transformation of composition within institutions poses a number of questions around representation, inclusion and the ability of institutions to meet the expectations of an increasingly diverse group of students.
For DHET and institutions, the changing face of students and staff is both a policy and institutional issue.
The Need to Respond to Technological Advances
Another issue raised during the workshop was the need for the PSET system to remain responsive to technological advances.
Technology continues to change the way we learn and work and higher education and training institutions need to reflect on how these advances affect teaching, learning, administration and the skills needed by graduates.
For students, the ability of institutions to adapt to technological advances can have a direct impact on their readiness to enter the workplace.
Improving the Use of Limited Resources
The workshop also included a discussion on the efficiency of the use of resources across the PSET system.
Since institutions operate within limited financial and human resources, effective allocation and use of resources is an important part of improved service delivery.
The workshop discussions stressed the need to review not only the allocation of resources but also their use in order to achieve the objectives of the higher education and training system.
Connecting Policy to Implementation
A core issue emerging from the reflection was the need to improve the link between policy and its implementation.
Consultation with stakeholders allows government to understand challenges within the sector and develop appropriate policies to address them.
However, the ultimate benefit of a policy depends on what happens when it is implemented.
DHET pointed to the need to continue exploring innovative approaches to ensuring that there is a strong connection between responsiveness at policy and consultation levels on the one hand, and effective implementation on the other.
The Potential Impact of the Workshop on the Sector
The conclusion of the Strategic Reflection Workshop does not include the announcement of a new higher education policy nor immediate changes to institutions.
Instead, it provides a platform for government and stakeholders to identify challenges and consider how DHET can address them.
Issues raised during the workshop, including access, changing face of students and staff, technological advances and resource efficiency are likely to remain relevant as South Africa looks to navigate the future of its post-school education and training system.
The future implications will depend on what DHET identifies as next steps in relation to the strategic discussions.
A Review Focused on a More Responsive PSET System
The workshop brought together government and sector representatives at a time of new challenges for the higher education and training environment.
The presence of representatives from TVET colleges, universities, the Council on Higher Education and PSETA ensured that different parts of the PSET system were represented during the discussions.
For students and institutions, the impact of the discussions will ultimately depend on whether they can lead to more effective implementation, improved access and more efficient use of resources.
DHET’s ongoing focus on the connection between policy and implementation will therefore be an important area to watch as the Department determines its next steps following the workshop.
Source and reporting note
This article was independently written from information supplied about the conclusion of the DHET Strategic Reflection Workshop and the stakeholder panel discussion.
The article reports the issues identified during the workshop and does not present potential future changes as decisions that have already been implemented.
Editorial policy
We provide independently written reporting and explainers covering South Africa’s higher education, TVET, skills development and post-school education and training sectors.
We distinguish between confirmed developments, stakeholder discussions and potential future actions.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and public awareness. It is not an official policy announcement from the Department of Higher Education and Training.
Any future changes to policies, programmes, institutional arrangements or funding should be confirmed through official DHET communications.
