. Access to higher education and training had increased tremendously in the past decade. The demand for higher education exceeded the carrying capacity of universities. There were 1 million headcount enrolments in higher education in 2011 and by 2030 this number would reach 1.5 million. There were 427 423 headcount enrolments in FET colleges in 2011. The 18- 24 year olds not in education, employment or training was 3 million and this remained a serious concern for the Department. . The role of the Department in higher education included: oversight and regulation of the higher education system, set national plans and policies, monitor implementation of policies and support development and growth of public higher education system. . The core business of universities included; teaching and learning, research, knowledge production and innovation and community engagement. . The key central strategic focus of the Department included: increasing the participation rate in post school education and training, strengthen the higher education system, planning, funding and quality assurance and promotion. . The student throughput in higher education remained a serious concern for the Department. In 3 year diplomas, the throughput rate was 35% while drop-out rate was 56%, in undergraduate degrees, the throughput rate was 48% and drop-out rate 46%, with Masters, the throughput rate was 33% while the drop-out rate was 57%, with Doctorates, the throughput rate was 35% while the drop-out rate as 41%. . The high drop-out rate was contributed by various factors such as lack of adequate funding, inadequate academic support, under-prepared students, poor quality of student accommodation and poor career advice and choices. . Government spending on education was internationally comparable, but the proportion spent on higher education was low. In terms of university expansion, two new universities were planned in Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces. . In terms of infrastructure, R6 billion was committed for priority areas such as student housing, infrastructure maintenance and refurbishment backlogs, scarce skills areas and development of African languages.