Heather Nel

I am the Senior Director of Institutional Planning at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. In this capacity, I am responsible for supporting senior management decision-making and planning through rigorous institutional research projects, data analytics, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation at an institutional level. I oversee strategic and academic planning at the University and assist the Vice Chancellor and executive management with evidence-informed strategic advice with respect to the feasibility of new academic directions such as expanding the University’s maritime and marine sciences footprint nationally and internationally. I have a Doctorate in Public Administration and I have successfully supervised Master’s and Doctoral candidates and published in books and journals on topics relating to post-school education and training. I was appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, to serve on a ministerial committee to develop a national articulation policy for the post-school education and training sector in South Africa and I also served on the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) reference group which developed a national policy on credit accumulation and transfer for the post-school sector in South Africa.