Prof Magda Fourie re-appointed on Council for Higher Education

Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Teaching at Stellenbosch University, has recently been appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimande, to the Council for Higher Education.

This is her second term on this council since being appointed by Minister Naledi Pandor in 2007.

The Council for Higher Education is an independent statutory body responsible for among other things advising the Minister of Higher Education and Training on all higher education policy issues, and for quality assurance in higher education and training.  The appointment is for a term of four years until the end of 2014.

The Council is one of three quality control councils in South Africa and is responsible for higher education. The other two is Umalusi, for basic education, and the Quality Council for Trade and Occupations (QCTO).

Prof Fourie has been Vice-Rector: Teaching at SU since 2007 and is also serving a second term on the Umalusi Council after being re-appointed last year.

According to Prof Fourie the Council’s challenge is to not only be reactive in giving advice to the Minister, but also pro-active. This requires that the Council must have good relations and regular interaction with the higher education sector, and to also be aware of and have insight into the issues that higher education are facing.  

“Giving inputs like these will in my view be my primary role on the Council. The fact that I am a member of the Council also means that I get first hand information on policy directions, developments and challenges in the higher education sector, which can be incorporated into our institutional discussions and processes here,” says Prof Fourie.