APPENDIX 1: NATIONAL WORKING GROUP: TERMS OF REFERENCE 

1. Purpose 

The National Working Group will investigate and advise the Minister on appropriate arrangements for consolidating the provision of higher education on a regional basis through establishing new institutional and organisational forms, including the feasibility of reducing the number of higher education institutions. The investigation forms part of the broader process for the restructuring of the higher education system to ensure that it contributes to social and economic development, as outlined in the National Plan for Higher Education. 

2. Principles 

The investigation must be guided by the principles and goals for the transformation of the higher education system as outlined in the Education White Paper 3: A Programme for the Transformation of the Higher Education System. In addition, the National Working Group must ensure that its recommendations address and promote the following goals: 

• Social and educational goals, in particular, the contribution of higher education to social and economic development, both regionally and nationally. 
• Access and equity goals in relation to both student and staff equity, as well as institutional redress. 
• Quality and efficiency goals in terms of economies of scale and scope, both programme and infrastructural, as well as the spread and quality of programmes and graduation and retention rates. 
• Institutional sustainability and viability goals in terms of student numbers, income and expenditure patterns and management and governance capacities. 
• Institutional identity and culture goals in terms of overcoming the legacy of apartheid (CHE, pp.58-59). 

3. Terms of Reference 

The National Working Group must: 

1. Address how the number of institutions can be reduced and the form that the restructured institutions should take, and not on whether the number of institutions can or should be reduced. 
2. Ensure that the reduction in the number of institutions does not result in the closure of existing sites of delivery, that is, it must be underpinned by the principle that higher education programmes would continue to be offered at all the current sites of delivery, but within new institutional and organisational forms and structures. 
3. Consider the full range of potential institutional arrangements, including the rationalisation of programme development and delivery through institutional collaboration, as well as different models of mergers. 
4. Consider the role and function of all existing institutions in the development of new institutional and organisational forms, that is, no institution should be exempted from the need to change fundamentally and from contributing to achieving a new higher education landscape. 
5. Recommend the incorporation of the constituent campuses of Vista University into appropriate existing higher education institutions within each region given the decision to unbundle Vista University. This does not include the distance education centre of Vista University, which will be incorporated into a single dedicated distance education institution through the merger of UNISA and Technikon South Africa. 
6. Consider the following regional demarcations for purposes of the investigation: 

• Eastern Cape. 
• Free State. 
• KwaZulu Natal. 
• Gauteng. 
• Northern Province. 
• North West. 
• Western Cape. 

4. Process 

1. The National Working Group must consult with the appropriate constituencies at both the national and regional levels. 
2. The National Working Group may commission specialist studies and draw on the experience and expertise of other individuals both within and outside of the higher education sector as and when necessary. 
3. The Higher Education Branch of the Department of Education will serve as the secretariat to the National Working Group. 
4. The National Working Group is accountable to the Minister of Education. It is required to complete its investigation and to submit its recommendations to the Minister by no later than the end of December 2001. 

5. Members 

The National Working Group consists of: 

Mr Saki Macozoma – Chairperson; Deputy Chairperson of the Standard Bank Investment Corporation. Served on the Council on Higher Education Task Team on the Size and Shape of the Higher Education System. Ms Gill Marcus – Deputy Chairperson; Deputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank. Prof. Hugh Africa, retired Vice-Chancellor, Vista University and a member of the Council on Higher Education. 

Prof. Malegapuru W Makgoba, President, Medical Research Council of South Africa, Member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and former Deputy Vice Chancellor and member of the Council on Higher Education. 

Mr. Murphy Morobe, Chairperson, Fiscal and Finance Commission and the National Parks Board. 

Prof. Wiseman Nkhulu, Economic Adviser to the President; Chairperson, Council on Higher Education. 

Ms Joyce Phekane, Deputy Vice President, Congress of South African Trade Unions. 

Ms Maria Ramos, Director-General, Department of Finance. 

Prof. Jairam Reddy, Chairperson of Council, United Nations University; Chaired the National Commission on Higher Education. 

Prof. Hennie Rossouw, retired Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Stellenbosch; Served on the National Commission on Higher Education. 

Prof. Stuart Saunders, retired Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town