This discussion document is the result of a literature review commissioned by the Board of Directors of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) in 2013. The primary objective was to develop a reference document which could assist in stimulating debate and informing and shaping HESA’s recommendations to the government, as well as develop a ‘co-operative governance’ framework which might help restore the primacy of the foundational principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy and accountability of public higher education institutions (HEIs). The project was prompted by the 2012 amendments to the Higher Education and Training Act, which significantly extended the powers of the Minister to intervene in the governance of universities.

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