Institutional audit process formally concluded

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town's (UCT) institutional audit process has now been formally concluded by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC). The institutional audit, which commenced in 2022, assessed the university's quality management system across a broad range of academic and institutional functions.

Following the release of the institutional audit report in 2023, UCT developed and submitted a comprehensive Institutional Improvement Plan to address the recommendations arising from the audit. Since then, the university has submitted two progress reports to the HEQC.

The first progress report was approved in February 2025, with the HEQC noting UCT's systematic approach to improvement and the successful integration of the improvement plan into broader institutional planning and operational processes.

A second progress report was submitted in 2026 and approved by the HEQC in June 2026, resulting in the formal closure of the audit process.

The HEQC commended the university for the quality of its final report, noting that it provided clear evidence of progress, meaningful reflection on achievements and continued commitment to strengthening internal quality assurance systems. The closure of the audit process signals confidence in the university's ability to identify, monitor and address quality-related matters through its own governance and quality management processes.

This outcome reflects the collective contribution of academic and professional staff, students, governance structures and leadership across the institution. It also demonstrates the growing maturity of UCT's quality management system, including its ability to embed quality enhancement within institutional planning, monitoring and decision-making processes.

Building on this foundation, the university is currently developing a Quality Assurance Framework, which is planned for Senate consideration in November 2026. The framework will provide a more coherent institutional approach to quality assurance, quality enhancement and continuous improvement across the university.

UCT staff and students may use their login credentials to access institutional audit documentation.

• Access the audit documentation.

Sincerely

Professor Brandon Collier-Reed
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements