CHEC develops and administers support initiatives at the request of the member universities. Current institutional support consists of two sub-focus areas:
Shared facilities and services and Higher Education Leadership Academy (HELA).
Shared facilities and services
Cape Higher Education Library Network (CHELiN)
The Cape Higher Education Library Network (CHELiN) is an initiative of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) and consists of the four higher education libraries at the public universities in the Western Cape i.e. the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Stellenbosch University (SU), the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
CHELiN’s purpose is to provide optimal access to information and quality information services for all participating institutions, enhancing those possible in any single institution, and to develop additional partnerships where they will further contribute to meeting the needs of users.
Contact:
www.chelin.ac.za/contact-us/ | www.chelin.ac.za
Copyright clearance management
Publishing Liaison Office (PLO)
The PLO functions as a one-stop copyright clearance management and related services solution for access to teaching and learning materials on behalf of the four universities in the Western Cape. The PLO is authorised to clear and manage the reproduction of copyright-protected materials for non-commercial, educational purposes under the respective universities’ blanket or transactional licence agreements in deliberation with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO).
The PLO also clears copyright with various other rights holders when required, while also directing the proper use and clearance of materials under Open Access, public domain, GNU General Public Licences or Creative Commons licence agreements. Lecturers and administrative staff can register and submit copyright permission requests directly on the PLO’s management system.
Other activities of the PLO include:
- Creating an awareness of the copyright laws of South Africa
- Facilitating compliance with copyright laws and relevant authorities
- Negotiating reasonable fees for the use of materials from various copyright holders
- Participating in institutional forums and training that shape copyright policies and guidelines
Higher Education Leadership Academy (HELA)
The CHEC Higher Education Leadership Academy is proud to present you with the programmes we will be offering in 2026. These programmes are the result of our continued scanning of the environment and the feedback we receive. All public and private HEIs are invited to participate.
HELA offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs, strategically designed to support staff at every stage of their career- from emerging researchers and middle managers to executive leaders, researchers and those transitioning into retirement.
We provide a clear pathway for participation and provide support for the complex Higher Education system using HELA’s unique co-creation model.
We use a structured approach towards the development of individual or institutional mental models, developing critical thinking and creating effective and efficient leaders.
How to register
To register, participants should follow the links as provided below. We will then reach out to the universities to confirm participation.
Academic Research Supervision Programme
Creating a capacity development programme for university research supervisors is an essential strategy to enhance their skills, enabling them to guide students more effectively. The Programme focuses on building both technical and soft skills across various areas such as leadership in mentoring, project management, communication, and ethical supervision.
Critical conversations
Purpose: The CHEC Critical Conversations is designed as a forum for engagement across the four universities and our strategic partners in the Western Cape on critical issues and discourses in SA HEIs. We recognize that the academic landscape has become increasingly complex and that answers need to be found for problems that previously did not exist. In this way, the CHEC Critical Conversations will provide our regional universities with an opportunity to share ideas and contribute to regional higher education innovation by discussing our strategies and lessons learnt through our business continuity, risk, and other applications.
Cost: Attendance of the Critical Conversations are free.
COVID-19 management and responses. Lessons learnt for the future
Editor: Prof René Pellissier
Book DOI: https://doi.org/10.52779/9781991260031
Almost two years ago, CHEC launched the idea of developing a book on Covid-19 management and responses. We received international and national support for the idea. The book deals with teaching and learning and management issues and in an effort to formulate lessons learnt for future discontinuity in the HE domain. We thank all the authors for their efforts to make this valuable to our institutions in providing lessons learnt.
The book is available for download (as soft copy for free) from the following platforms:
Google (e-book): https://bit.ly/43Ng65k
Takealot (printed): https://bit.ly/3KVfIKx (at R380)
ITSI (e-book): https://bit.ly/43EUHeC
Amazon (printed): https://amzn.to/43VwLDH (Amazon does not host free e-books)
ASM (printed): orders@africansunmedia.co.za
Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education in Teaching and Learning
To address this need, CHEC has been offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education in Teaching and Learning [(PGDip (HE)(T&L)] since 2014. The programme, which is available to academic staff from the four regional universities, as well as from other South African universities, is implemented through a collaboration agreement between Stellenbosch University (SU), the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Cape University of Technology (CPUT).
A Postgraduate Coordinating Committee, consisting of representatives from the three universities, is responsible for the oversight, planning and coordination of the programme. The current Chair of the Committee is Dr Xena Cupido of CPUT (cupidox@cput.ac.za).
The programme, which is offered on a part-time basis over two years, has three compulsory modules of 30 credits each, namely:
- Teaching and learning in higher education,
- Assessment in higher education, and
- Research for enhancing teaching and learning.
In addition, students may choose one elective 30-credit modules from the following four modules:
- ICTs for Teaching and Learning
- Academic Leadership and Management
- Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision
- Recognition of Prior Learning
The most recent cohort of 19 participants enrolled at the start of 2020 and completed the programme at the end of 2021.
The programme will be offered again in 2023, while 2022 is being used for a programme re-curriculation process.