Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)

Regulations

Regulations for the Registration of Private Higher Education Institutions, 2003

Annexure

Important considerations for lodging the application for registration
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This guide and the accompanying application form must be used when a private institution applies for registration as a private higher education institution.

 

Private institutions seeking registration should contact the DOE to discuss their eligibility to register in terms of the Act. For an application to be considered for registration, the applicant must-

a)propose to offer higher education as contemplated in section 1 of the Act; and
b)have established a juristic person in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973) (hereafter referred to as "the Companies Act").

 

The requirements for registration are prescribed in the Act and operationalised in Chapter 3 of the Regulations. In terms of the Act, the registration of private higher education institutions is linked to two main criteria:

i)Financial viability

The applicant must provide proof in the application that its income is or will be sufficient to sustain its programmes in an acceptable manner and that it has, or will have, a stable financial position that will enable it to maintain operational continuity.

 

The applicant must also submit proof that it has established financial surety or guarantees to ensure that it meets its obligations to its enrolled students.

ii)Institutional and programme accreditation

The applicant must propose to offer only programmes leading to qualifications that are registered on the NQF. The application to the DOE must be supported by an application for institutional and programme accreditation by the HEQC, a permanent committee of the CHE established in terms of section 4 of the Act. On applying for registration, an applicant must provide proof that an application for accreditation has been lodged with the HEQC.

 

Private institutions wishing to discuss accreditation should contact the HEQC directly at

 

The Executive Director Quality Assurance

The Higher Education Quality Committee

Council on Higher Education

P O Box 13354

THE TRAMSHED

0126

Telephone: 012 392 9120

Facsimile : 012 392 9132

 

In considering the application, the Registrar is required to consider, inter alia, the evidence provided in the application, as well as the recommendations of the HEQC on the applicant's application for accreditation. On the basis of these, the Registrar must determine whether, if registered, the applicant will maintain acceptable standards that are not inferior to those of a comparable public &her education institutions.