“VUT hosted the Quality Enhancement Forum 2026, advancing dialogue on quality assurance, programme accreditation, teaching, policy alignment and continuous improvement.”
10 February 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture by: Peter Masela
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT), through its Quality Promotions Unit (QPU) and Programme Accreditation and Curriculum Development (PACD) unit, hosted the Quality Enhancement Forum (QEF) 2026 at the Emerald Casino from 28 to 30 January 2026. The forum brought together quality assurance practitioners, academics and institutional leaders from across the higher education sector to strengthen quality systems and practices.
Held under the theme Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement: Quality in Practice, Policy and Pedagogy, the forum provided a focused platform for dialogue on quality assurance, programme accreditation, teaching and learning enhancement and policy alignment. Discussions reflected the sector’s shared commitment to academic excellence, accountability and continuous institutional improvement in an evolving higher education landscape.
Opening the forum, Dr Luyanda Marhaya, Director of PACD at VUT, emphasised that programme accreditation remains a cornerstone of quality assurance in higher education. He noted that accreditation extends beyond regulatory compliance and plays a critical role in safeguarding the credibility, relevance and integrity of academic offerings.
“Accreditation ensures that qualifications are legally recognised, aligned with national requirements and professional bodies, and responsive to labour market needs,” said Dr Marhaya. He further underscored the importance of strong institutional governance, stressing that all programme development, amendments and reviews must follow approved processes through recognised structures such as faculties, Senate and Council.
Ms Thiruvani Naidoo, Director of QPU at VUT, highlighted the growing importance of a robust, responsive and developmental quality assurance system. While quality assurance is a mandated institutional function, she cautioned against a compliance-driven, tick-box approach and called for a culture rooted in continuous improvement and reflective practice.
She outlined key challenges facing institutions, including uneven institutional capacity, limited staffing in quality units, competing academic workloads and insufficient alignment with the national Quality Assurance Framework. Ms Naidoo also emphasised the need for reliable data, sound governance and evidence-based decision-making to support sustainable quality systems.
The forum featured presentations from various higher education institutions, each sharing practical experiences aligned with the forum theme. These engagements highlighted both successes and challenges in implementing quality assurance frameworks, curriculum renewal processes and continuous improvement initiatives, while strong audience participation fostered peer learning and cross-institutional collaboration across the sector.
Sharing a participant’s perspective, Dr Laurika Wiese, Deputy Director: Quality Enhancement at the Central University of Technology (CUT), described the Quality Enhancement Forum as a valuable community of practice for quality practitioners. She noted that the forum creates a safe and collegial space where professionals from different universities can engage freely, exchange best practices, and reflect collectively on both successes and challenges in the field.
Overall, the Quality Enhancement Forum 2026 reaffirmed VUT’s commitment to sector-wide collaboration, reflective practice and continuous improvement. By bringing together voices from policy, practice and participation, the forum strengthened shared understanding and collective responsibility for advancing quality, relevance and excellence in higher education.