​​​The Council on Higher Education (CHE) has appointed Stellenbosch University's (SU) Dr Choice Makhetha to serve as a member of the Institutional Audits Committee (IAC).

The Nominations and Governance Committee of the CHE announced that Dr Makhetha will serve as a member of the IAC for three years – from 24 February 2020 to 25 February 2023.

Although appointed in her private capacity to fulfil a governance role, she believes the role will enhance her current role as Senior Director: Division for Student Affairs (DSAf) at SU in a number of different ways.

“When I serve at a higher level within South Africa's higher education landscape, I have the opportunity to think broader and creatively, improving the quality of my primary job. I will be building a bigger network of colleagues in different spaces and that will definitely enrich my work environment," she says.

Dr Makhetha's contributions will be critical to the institutionalisation of quality assurance within the higher education system.

Established by the Higher Education Act of 1997, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) is a permanent committee of the CHE that works in the area of institutional audits and quality enhancement.

The role of the committee that Dr Makhetha will be part of, is to monitor, support, guide and do quality assurance on the efficient and effective implementation of the HEQC institutional audits and quality enhancement processes.

“I feel very excited for being appointed to the IAC. It is a recognition of the experience I have and the contribution I can make on a governance level by being part of this committee of higher education in South Africa that focuses on quality assurance. I recognise the huge responsibility that comes with the role and I feel I am well equipped and ready," she adds.

She says the appointment gives her an opportunity to serve the higher education sector more, working with all institutions of higher learning (public and private), as quality assurance is crucial for the whole sector and for the students entering the sector who expect value for money.

Dr Makhethe says her new role will demand objectivity from her, especially considering that she will sometimes have to deal with matters affecting SU, but she vows to continue being resourceful where her skills, expertise and experience are needed.

“I was appointed based on my experience, expertise and skills. I have experience in many different roles and I have a deep understanding of the higher education sector."

Dr Makhetha has served at senior management and rectorate levels and on two institutional audit panels in the first round of audits, giving her a clearer picture of what is important at governance level.