About

The Centre for Higher Education Professional Development (CHEPD) was launched in 2023, under the directorship of Prof Emmanuel Mgqwashu, as a response to national policies urging higher education institutions to enhance the quality of university teaching, particularly the 2018 National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers. 

As a Centre at the North-West University, we are dedicated to enhancing teaching, scholarship, and professional practice in tertiary education. Our post-graduate program offerings respond to the realities of contemporary higher education, building the capacity of tertiary education teachers to be responsive to and navigate the complexities of a transforming higher education context through advanced postgraduate studies, short learning programmes, and interdisciplinary scholarship.

Our research lands itself at the intersections of professional development and higher education transformation, in its various forms, contributing to ongoing scholarly debates in the field of higher education studies.

Vision

To be a leading centre for higher education professional development capacitating tertiary education teachers, advancing research, scholarship and collaborative partnership in a transforming higher education context.

Mission

To enhance tertiary education teachers in a transforming higher education context through quality postgraduate qualifications and short learning programmes for the professional development of tertiary education teachers.

To establish collaborative partnerships at faculty, institutional, national, and international levels.

To conduct cutting edge higher education research that can drive the evolution of tertiary education teaching in a transforming higher education context.

To support the development of the future generation of higher education scholars in South Africa, Africa and beyond.

Our Focus Areas

• Programme Offerings: Specialised Short Learning Programmes, M.Ed. Higher Education Studies, PhD Higher Education Studies

• Research: Professional development of tertiary education teachers within transforming higher education contexts

• Critical Conversations: Seminars, Webinars, Lectures, Colloquia, Panel Discussions etc.

• Collaborations: strategic partnerships, institutionally, nationally and internationally.

Timeline