The University of Venda (UNIVEN) is proud to announce that it will host the 32nd Southern African Association for Institutional Research (SAAIR) Conference for the first time in 2025. The announcement was made during the 2024 SAAIR Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 07 November 2024 at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Pretoria, Gauteng.
On photo: 2024-2026 SAAIR Executive Committee (EXCO) members: L-R: Benjamin Ntshabele (SMU); Innocent Mamvura (WITS); Munienge Mbodila (WSU); Hossein Karakani (UP); Ashton Maherry (SAIDE); Valentino Maroga (TUT); Elizabeth Booi (UWC and SAAIR President); and Sannah Mativandlela (UNIVEN)
The 2025 conference will be chaired by Dr Sannah Patience Mativandlela, Director of Institutional Planning and Quality Assurance (IPQA) at UNIVEN, and a current member of the SAAIR Executive Committee. Dr Mativandlela expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the hosting of such a prestigious event, highlighting the potential impact the conference will have on the academic community. “The 2025 SAAIR Conference will provide a critical platform for scholars, researchers, higher education professionals, and institutional leaders to engage with cutting-edge
research and best practices in institutional planning, quality assurance, learn-er analytics, and Higher Education Management Information Systems (HEMIS),” said Dr Mativandlela. “We look forward to facilitating robust discussions that will con-tribute to the advancement of higher education institutions across Southern Africa.”
The conference, scheduled for November 2025, promises to be a momentous oc-casion for the university and the region. It will offer a unique opportunity for net-working and learning, bringing together experts from across Southern Africa to discuss the latest trends in institutional research and share innovative approach-es to improving the management and operation of higher education institutions.
UNIVEN’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Bernard Nthambeleni, also ex-pressed excitement about hosting the event for the first time. “It is with great pride that we welcome the opportunity to host the 32nd SAAIR Conference. This marks a significant milestone in the University’s ongoing commitment to advancing institu-tional research and contributing to the broader higher education landscape,” said Professor Nthambeleni. “We are eager to showcase our campus and facilities, while also creating a dynamic space for collaboration and the exchange of ideas that will shape the future of higher education in Southern Africa. We look forward to wel-coming delegates and experts from all corners of the region to UNIVEN in 2025.”
The Southern African Association for Institutional Research (SAAIR) is a profes-sional body that supports the development and application of institutional re-search across the higher education sector. Founded in 1994, SAAIR promotes re-search, analysis, and the application of management information systems to improve the planning, management, and operation of higher education institutions. Through conferences, training, and professional development, SAAIR fosters col-laboration and the sharing of best practices among higher education professionals.
The association encourages the use of interdisciplinary methodolo-gies to improve the quality and effectiveness of decision-making, re-source allocation, and institutional planning in the higher education sector.
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