Report to the SAAIR EXCO: Strategic and Enrolment Planning (SEP) Special Interest Group (SIG)
Date: 8th November 2024
Objective: To establish a comprehensive vision and action plan for the newly launched Strategic and Enrolment Planning (SEP) Special Interest Group (SIG) at the 31st SAAIR Annual Conference.
Background
The SEP SIG embodies Dr. Liile Lekena-Bayaga’s vision, initially introduced in 2022 with a series of webinars titled #Let’s Talk Strategy at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). These sessions focused on critical themes in strategy development and institutional planning in South African higher education. Following a hiatus in 2023, the SEP SIG was officially launched at the 2024 SAAIR conference, with a mission to cultivate ongoing collaboration, best practice sharing, and capacity building among institutions in strategic and enrolment planning.
SIG Launch and Panel Discussion
The SIG was launched through a panel discussion chaired by Dr. Liile Lekena-Bayaga, with panelists from diverse institutions:
- Dr. Nandarani Maistry (University of Johannesburg)
- Ms. Ayanda Nongogo (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
- Mr. Ntsundeni Mapatagane (Walter Sisulu University)
- Harshilla Dulabh (University of the Witwatersrand)
- Gerliza Vogler (University of Pretoria)
- Dr. Remy Nnadozie (Rhodes University)
Each panelist shared insights into effective strategic and enrolment planning, establishing a foundation for collaborative efforts to drive the SIG’s objectives.
Key Recommendations and Discussion Outcomes
- Training Needs
- Data Translation: Addressing data overload and enhancing skills in translating complex data into actionable, accessible insights for various stakeholders.
- Human-Centric Training: Ensuring that participants understand the impact of data on strategic goals, institutional performance, and outcomes.
- Advancing the SIG’s Mission
- Strategic and Skills Training: Emphasizing joint institutional efforts to build skills in areas like strategic goal alignment, policy response, and stakeholder engagement through ongoing webinars.
- Community of Practice: Establishing an informal yet structured community that promotes best practice sharing, inspired by the HEMIS Institute model. Dr. Lekena-Bayaga was appointed to initiate this collaborative framework for the SIG.
- Data Accessibility and Simplification
- Simplifying data for broader, non-technical audiences to improve institutional understanding and support trend analysis in both strategic and enrolment planning.
- Broadening Participation
- Expanding SIG membership to include institutions that were unable to attend the conference and including both active and retired professionals to enhance institutional knowledge and expertise.
- Policy-Driven Strategic and Enrolment Planning
- Grounding planning efforts in institutional and governmental policy frameworks to ensure that strategic and enrolment goals align with regulatory expectations, particularly DHET guidelines.
- Faculty Engagement and Academic Ownership
- Recognizing the need for deeper academic involvement, especially by Deans and Heads of Departments, in strategic planning and enrolment target setting to drive program relevance and academic quality.
- Best Practice Sharing and Benchmarking
- Establishing a culture of continuous improvement through knowledge sharing, benchmarking, and case studies to enhance strategic and enrolment planning across institutions.
- Breaking Down Institutional Silos
- Encouraging collaboration across departments, with a focus on integrating HEMIS practitioners, to foster a cohesive approach to strategic and enrolment planning.
- Integrated Strategic Planning
- Sharing solutions for integrated planning, a key area where many institutions face challenges, ensuring cohesive planning processes that unify institutional, faculty, and administrative goals.
- Regular Stakeholder Training
- Building capacity in SEP through regular, tailored training sessions for various stakeholders to improve understanding and engagement in strategic objectives.
- Ownership of Enrolment and Strategic Plans
- Emulating models where faculties assume ownership of their enrolment and strategic plans, fostering alignment with institutional priorities and increasing accountability.
- Long-Term Sustainability and Succession Planning
- Proposing a dedicated training course in strategic and enrolment planning to ensure continuity and support future leaders in the field.
Strategic Focus Areas for the SEP SIG
- Data-Driven Decision-Making and Analytics: Training on data access, predictive analytics, and system integration to support evidence-based decisions in strategic and enrolment planning.
- Strategic Goal Alignment and Target Setting: Conducting regular demand analyses and aligning programs with institutional and market needs. This includes evaluating PQM viability to optimize program offerings and support DHET compliance.
- Policy and Compliance: Ensuring alignment with DHET guidelines and institutional policies to create a unified approach to both strategic and enrolment planning.
- Benchmarking and Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging benchmarking and best practice exchange to foster innovation and alignment across strategic initiatives and enrolment targets.
- Academic Empowerment and Ownership: Strengthening faculty involvement in strategic goal setting and enrolment targets, supported by tailored training in SEP principles.
- Community of Practice for Strategic Planners: Developing a network for SEP professionals, providing forums, webinars, and mentorship to support continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
- Holistic Student Success Planning: Developing retention and engagement strategies informed by both cognitive and non-cognitive factors to support inclusive student success planning.
- Institution-Wide Training: Offering training on SEP fundamentals, data literacy, and emerging trends to equip stakeholders with necessary skills.
- Knowledge Preservation: Implementing succession planning and knowledge transfer mechanisms to sustain institutional planning knowledge.
- Data Governance and Privacy in Planning: Promoting ethical data use and privacy compliance, particularly in strategic decision-making and enrolment data handling.
- Technological Integration: Leveraging AI, automation, and predictive tools to enhance both strategic and enrolment planning, from recruitment to student success analysis.
Way Forward
- Formal SAAIR Approval: Seek SAAIR’s endorsement to formalize the SIG, ensuring it is recognized as an official initiative to support institutional planning and enrolment strategy.
- Engagement of Academic Leaders: Encourage Deans and faculty involvement, supporting SEP efforts through SAAIR membership benefits.
- SIG Chair: Dr. Lekena-Bayaga will lead the SIG as chair in the first year, with support from Dr. Nandarani Maistry, to establish a sustainable structure before transitioning to SAAIR’s guidance.
- Webinars and Workshops: Begin with online webinars, followed by potential physical workshops. The first meeting is scheduled post-29th November, focusing on insights from the DHET Enrolment Planning Workshop.
- Integration with HEMIS Institute: A SEP-dedicated stream at the 2025 HEMIS Institute will support knowledge-sharing efforts and provide practical planning resources.
- Data Literacy Initiatives: Data literacy training will be a key component, ensuring members have the skills to interpret data critical to strategic and enrolment planning.
Next Meeting
The first SIG webinar is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, focusing on reflections from the DHET Enrolment Planning Workshop to further refine the SIG’s objectives.
Conclusion
The SEP SIG will serve as a forward-looking, collaborative platform, equipping institutional planners, academic leaders, and data analysts with the tools to excel in strategic and enrolment planning. Through training, community building, and data-driven insights, the SIG will help institutions achieve student success, institutional growth, and long-term resilience. By supporting informed decision-making and continuous improvement, the SEP SIG is well-positioned to meet the evolving demands of higher education in South Africa.