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

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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