UFH strengthens governance of DHET conditional grants to maximise student success and institutional impact
Magadlela said the session was intended to create a common understanding of institutional processes and to improve governance, accountability, and audit readiness across all DHET-funded projects.
Effective management of Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) conditional grants goes beyond spending allocated funds – it is about ensuring every project delivers measurable benefits for students and the University.
This was the central message at a workshop recently hosted by the University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) Finance Division through its DHET Grants Management Office – a specialised unit within the Finance Division established to strengthen governance, financial oversight, compliance, and reporting across DHET-funded programmes.”
The session brought together project leaders, coordinators, administrators, finance, and support staff to develop a shared understanding of the governance, compliance, and reporting requirements that guide the management of DHET conditional grants.
Addressing the attendees, the Office’s Senior Manager, Mr Siyabulela Magadlela, said the grants are a significant investment in the University’s academic mission and institutional development. “Managing conditional grants is not simply a financial exercise,” he reminded the participants.
The workshop focused on the management of several DHET conditional grants, including the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP), New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), University Staff Doctoral Programme (USDP), Clinical Training Grant (CTG), and the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP).
Magadlela said the session was intended to create a common understanding of institutional processes and to improve governance, accountability, and audit readiness across all DHET-funded projects.
An interactive session challenged participants to reflect on the purpose of conditional grants, the conditions attached to the funding, and the respective responsibilities of grant holders, coordinators, and administrators in delivering approved projects and meeting key performance indicators.
Office Manager, Ms. Sheena Mentz, unpacked the importance of responsible financial management. Her presentation focused on linking expenditure to approved deliverables, monitoring budgets effectively, and ensuring projects are implemented within agreed timeframes. She also highlighted the risks associated with under-spending and expenditure that does not align with approved project plans.
Reporting and governance remained a key theme throughout the programme. Magadlela outlined the University’s reporting obligations, governance expectations, and audit considerations, stressing that accurate financial and narrative reporting, supported by proper documentation, is essential for accountability and future funding.
The Finance Officer Ms Nandi Zola, later guided participants through the operational processes that support grant management. Her presentation covered requisition and procurement procedures, the alignment between Finance and Supply Chain Management, and the practical support available to project teams implementing grant-funded activities.
The programme concluded with an open discussion where attendees reflected on common implementation challenges, operational bottlenecks and opportunities for improved coordination across the institution.
Magadlela said that as the University’s governance environment continues to evolve, collaboration across faculties and support divisions remains critical.
“Through this engagement, we hope to strengthen collaboration, improve reporting and monitoring practices, and promote a culture of responsible stewardship of public funds,” he said.
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