Colloquium Highlights Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education Sector

BY: .

The UKZN branch of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) hosted a Colloquium on the financial sustainability of Higher Education, with the aim being to stimulate debate and discussion on the controversial nature of sustainability within the sector.

Addressing the gathering, UKZN Chair of Council, Mrs Phumla Mnganga, defined the global and national context of challenges and discussed the need for robust review and co-operative governance of key role players. ‘Apart from current state funding, the growing demand for Higher Education Institutions funding amid the growth of the system means that institutions must maximise revenue from third stream sources in addition to tuition fees,’ said Mnganga.

Focusing on sources of funding and challenges facing the sector, she advised, ‘A model to achieving financial sustainability includes stakeholder balance, co-ordinated roles and responsibilities, balance of tensions with commitment as well as joint responsibility of stakeholders for institutional governance and unity of purpose.’

Presenting the state funding plan, Director at the Department of Higher Education and Training, Ms Brenda Swart, reiterated the commitment of the State to the sector, acknowledging that continuous review was important in meeting long and short term needs.

‘Striving to meet the targets of the National Development Plan, the University is continuing to address issues related to fee increases against the need for the University to maintain fiscal health and operational efficiency, with UKZN’s fees lowest amongst the leading institutions, said Mnganga.