About US
Who we are
Our history
The original forum was founded in 2002 and was named the Student Accounts Administrators Forum (SAAF). In September 2019, the name of the organization was changed to the HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT FINANCE FORUM, abbreviated as HESFF and hereafter referred to as HESFF. Due to the fact that we are not able to use the wording Higher Education, it was decided to change the name to SA Student Finance Forum NPC.
How we came about?
The Higher Education Student Finance Forum registered with the CIPC as a Non-Profit Company on 16 March 2021.
Due to certain reservations of the term “Higher Education”, the NPC was registered with the name of “SA Student Finance Forum NPC.
To collectively address common problems and find common solutions within a network of colleagues from the student finance administration function within the higher and further education sector in Southern Africa, in conjunction with the private sector’s credit control and financial service providers and collection agencies.
The SA Student Finance Forum consists of Student Finance administration personnel who continue to define general best practice for student accounts and debtors administration that will keep up to date with current and future developments in this function.
The mission of the SA Student Finance Forum is to establish channels such as an annual conference and workshops to effect regular communication between member institutions to identify alternative methods and approaches to student finance administration and to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments.
How we work
The specific objectives of HESFF are to:
Incorporate all stakeholders and communicate with other organisational functions to increase overall efficiency and by implementing defined ‘best practice’ for student finance administration.
Establish channels such as an annual conference and workshops to effect regular communication between member institutions to identify alternative methods and approaches to student finance administration and to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments.
Pursue affiliation with the national organised profession of credit management, e.g. the Institute of Credit Management.
Initiate fundraising strategies through industry collaboration that seeks to address historic and current student debts.
Create a platform for national government, corporate sector, USAf, NPOs and higher education to discuss financial relief for students.
Strive to obtain recognition from the organised higher education sector both nationally and internationally, in order to make a contribution to national policy on student fees and collection of student accounts.
Promote automated student finance services for efficient utilisation of resources.
Strive to obtain recognition from within the institutions where senior management will make use of the inputs to policy decisions affecting the function of student finance administration
Make proposals towards a national policy regarding credit granting to students and a debt collection norm for the higher and further education sector, in consultation with the government and other roll players in Southern Africa.
Contact us
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