EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN Contextual challenges and opportunities for Higher Education in South Africa

CRITICAL QUESTIONS How we see ourselves influences how we take up opportunities and reduce threats Why should we do environmental scans? Are we developing and allocating the kind of capacity and systems to steer and support national and regional initiatives and position the university in a competitive environment?

OPPORTUNITIES (1) THIRD STREAM INCOME CPD courses (FET educators, educator upgrading, NSC subject areas, 2010) Participation in virtual/public academies (transport, judiciary, accountancy, public sector) Support from provincial government linked to the implementation of the MoU (scarce skills, retention, growth and development sectors, longer term enrolment planning) Improving throughputs (ASGISA, targeted government bursaries and other support) Donor funding (Institute for Performing Arts) Note: Unless take debates on cost recovery forward many of the things listed as opportunities may actually be costs

OPPORTUNITIES (2) GOVERNMENT FUNDING HESA review of student fees Review of teaching input subsidy Review of teaching and research development grants Changes in the funding for clinical training Capital Development Grants(130m plus EBE) Increasing the spend on R & D to 1% of GDP Making use of increasing funds from DST and Trade and Industry – key to science innovation

OPPORTUNITIES (3) 3. PG STUDENT RECRUITMENT Exploiting new NRF chairs New national agreements (Brazil, India, China) Areas linked to ASGISA and the provincial Growth and Development Strategy Taking advantage of Centres of excellence Are we providing appropriate programmes Expansion of PG Diplomas Multi-disciplinary programmes

OPPORTUNITIES (4) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Strengthening relationships with the provincial government and the city OECD Australian/other international universities linked to improving processes in priority areas Southern African Regional Universities Association African Leaders Forum Presidential Working Group

THREATS (1) FINANCIAL Threat to cap fees Affordability of a UCT education Joint Agreement Declining returning student numbers Reduced third stream income especially in CPD area Escalating staffing costs as proportion of budget

THREATS (2) STUDENT RECRUITMENT Increased competition for black and PG students Reduced number of school leavers eligible to enter HE Sophisticated and targeted recruitment drives from other institutions Higher cohort success rates in other institutions impacting on attractiveness of UCT Use of HEQC audit reports by the public Impact of HIV/AIDS Not keeping track of factors influencing students’ choice of institution

THREATS (3) STAFF RECRUITMENT Competition for meeting employment equity targets Better packages/scholarships for junior staff from other institutions Cost of housing in CT

Threats (4) Emigration of graduates Political instability in the Western Cape

OTHER HIGH LEVEL EXTERNAL TRENDS/ACTIVITIES Academic planning environment HEQF and the GAP Finalisation of the NQF Review (Trade and Occupation Quality Council) Pressure from students to implement the recommendations of the HE Language policy task team State Steering Impact of the external audits Investigation into institutional autonomy and academic freedom Impact of the work of the Presidential task Team on HE