SERC Helps South Africa with new Framework for College Network

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) recently took the College’s knowledge and expertise overseas, as members of staff flew to Pretoria in South Africa to help and support the country’s Department for Higher Education in developing and implementing a maturity model and framework (which is a quality model) for 50 colleges.

In January 2021, SERC received funding from the British Council through the Vocational Education Toolbox project to support the Department for Higher Education and Training (DHET) South Africa to develop an institutional Maturity Model. This will support colleges in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in performing as effectively as possible. The project resulted in the development of an assessment framework and methodology together with resources, tailored to the South African TVET sector, to support the measurement of institutional maturity; an implementation action plan; and a  pilot programme with selected colleges in South Africa.

The project culminated in a 2-day event attended by college principals and their teams, representatives from British Council, DHET and SERC. The model was officially launched by Deputy Director-General of the TVET Branch in DHET, Mr Sam Zungu, who impressed upon the audience the need to continuously improve the quality of provision across TVET to ensure that students leave college having benefitted from the highest standards of education and gaining top quality qualifications. 

Heather Miller, SERC Quality Assurance Consultant said: “The aim of the project is to build a maturity model to develop capacity for quality improvement and development within TVET colleges throughout South Africa and to enhance the learning experience and student outcomes. The model encourages key issues to be identified and measurable action plans implemented to both track and celebrate improvement. It provides  opportunities for mature colleges to manage their future and also avenues of support to be provided for less mature colleges .

“The model was developed in consultation with major stakeholders which resulted in close partnerships between the pilot colleges and with regional and DHET colleagues. The pilot phase was warmly received by the college principals who can already illustrate demonstrable changes due to the model. They are keen to act as critical friends for the full rollout.”

Heather added “The capacity built during the pilot ensures that the project is on target to roll out to all 50 TVET colleges across South Africa. While the model is referenced across international quality management models, the maturity model is uniquely South African, focusing on the context, challenges and opportunities within the vibrant TVET college environment in South Africa.”

This project is part of a continuing collaboration between British Council and the South African TVET sector.