. The CHE planned to conduct research on: 20 years review of the state of higher education; institutional governance and management investigating whether the current tools (independent assessment and placing institutions under administration) were effective in improving governance and management; the state of provision of private higher education; role of National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) in partnership with the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi); changing nature of the academic profession and funding formula which would be different from the one commissioned by the Minister.