The Cape Higher Education Consortium
The Cape Higher Education Consortium represents the four public universities in the Western Cape of South Africa:
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
- Stellenbosch University (SU)
- University of Cape Town (UCT)
- University of the Western Cape (UWC)
CHEC is a not for profit company (registration number 2003/003131/08) with a small secretariat and team of project leaders. It relies on the staff of the constituent institutions to drive agreed projects and for technical assistance and development work, retaining consultants and specialists as needed.
Vision and mission
To establish the Western Cape as a strong higher education region in a restructured national system which, through systemic inter-institutional co-operation and academic programme collaboration, will be
- Distinctively responsive to regional, national and international developments in the knowledge economy of the 21st century
- Sensitive to historical realities in promoting equity across its institutions
- Cost effective and of high quality.
The vision and mission were developed at a time that the higher education sector In South Africa was being restructured. Vice Chancellors of the formerly five institutions signed a public Compact at the end of 2002 in which they committed their institutions to implement this vision and to principles of behaviour towards each other. The Compact is displayed prominently in the central administrations of each institution. (CPUT was formed from a merger between Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon.)
Projects and other activities
CHEC incorporates several long-standing projects, communities of practice and a management development programme. It tackles many other issues that affect all of its members, as they arise. CHEC has a growing interest in triple helix relationships (academia, government and business) and the role of higher education in regional development. It has also been drawn into various initiatives to promote innovation in the region.