SARUA Strategic Focus Areas
To guide and support the SADC higher education community in addressing regional grand challenges and achieving strategic priorities for regional development
What are our Strategic Focus Areas?
Each SFA is supported by an SFA leader, and within each SFA specific programmes and projects are identified and managed. These SFAs also aim to foster a community of practice.
Strategic Enabler – Regional Higher Education Management Information System
A comprehensive, integrated and standardised data management system will enable efficient storage, processing and retrieval of consistent and reliable data related to indicators such as student enrolment, academic performance, research activities, human resources, finances etc.
SFA 1: Knowledge Co-Production
SARUA emphasises the growing significance of universities’ engagement with society and allows for interrelated opportunities and challenges posed by sustainable development, including the United Nations’ Global SDGs and continental and regional plans.
SARUA provides a platform for engagement and collaboration among SADC HEIs, enabling them to address regional challenges and support national higher education systems.
SFA 2: Leadership and Professional Development
SARUA recognises the importance of fostering thought leadership, foresight, evidence-based planning and professional development within the higher education sector. This SFA aims to create an environment that supports leadership development, sense-making and opportunities for continuous professional growth. Thought leadership and sense-making help HEIs integrate their internationalisation approaches within the regional context.
SFA 3: Institutional Quality Management
SARUA is committed to supporting the objectives outlined in the SADC Protocol for Education and Training, which include staff and student mobility, credit recognition and transfer. This SFA focuses on assisting SADC HEIs in designing and delivering relevant, high-quality and sustainable formal and non-formal tertiary education programs to cater to diverse student learning needs.
SFA 4: Higher Education Digital Transformation
The digital transformation of HE presents both opportunities and challenges globally. This SFA seeks to enable SADC HEIs to leverage digital technologies effectively for teaching, research, administration and other areas to enhance their contributions to regional development.
