Southern  African Development Community 

The most recent SADC-related event mentioned in the provided sources is the Joint EAC-SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government on 8 February 2025.

A highly specific and detailed discussion occurred at a Hybrid SADC Technical meeting on the EMIS system (also referred to as the Regional focus group for Southern Africa) which was held in Mauritius on 7–8 August 2024,.

Discussions at the SADC Technical Meeting (August 2024)

The primary focus of this hybrid technical meeting was to examine the current practices and challenges in higher education data management across SADC member states, particularly concerning the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS),.

Key outcomes and discussions included:

Data Harmonization and Standardization 

The meeting emphasized the urgent need for harmonizing higher education data collection and establishing common data definitions, standards, and methodologies across the SADC region to ensure data comparability,,.

System Modernization 

Participants planned for the transition from manual data collection processes to modernized, electronic systems. This included developing integrated platforms, open data portals, and data warehouses to improve accessibility and transparency.

Regional Database Development 

The meeting addressed creating a framework for a regional higher education database in SADC, including designing common data manuals and implementing phased data collection approaches. Country representatives shared specific data elements collected, such as enrollment, staff profiles, and output statistics.

Capacity Building and Support

 The participants stressed the importance of funding training and technical support to enhance data management skills for collection and utilization at both national and institutional levels,,,. It was noted that staff often lack local expertise in EMIS.

Policy and Implementation Challenges

 Discussions highlighted persistent challenges, including fragmented national data systems, inconsistent data definitions (compounded by issues like UNESCO’s ISCED classifications), and limited capacity in human resources and IT infrastructure,,.

The meeting was a follow-up to a directive from SADC Ministers endorsing the development of a Profile and Database of Higher Education for the SADC Region. The hybrid meeting was organized by the SADC secretariat with support from HAQAA3