CUT academics from left: Dr Xolani Khohliso, Director: Curriculum and Academic Staff Development, Dr Lisa Nel, ECP Coordinator: Faculty of Humanities, Ms Lize Louw, ECP Coordinator: Management Sciences, and Dr Róan Slabbert, ECP Coordinator: Health and Environmental Sciences.

Academics from the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) joined colleagues from 21 South African universities in the first system-wide dialogue on Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) policy, practice, and sustainability in over two decades. The Summit marked a significant milestone for what remains the largest student access and success intervention in South African higher education.

During the Summit, participating institutions presented critical reflections on their ECP offerings, governance models, resource allocations, and strategic challenges. CUT was strongly represented by a delegation comprising Prof. Ntsoaki Malebo, Dean: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences; Dr Róan Slabbert, ECP Coordinator for Health and Environmental Sciences; Dr Lisa Nel, ECP Coordinator for the Faculty of Humanities; Ms Lize Louw, ECP Coordinator for Management Sciences; and Dr Xolani Khohliso, Director: Curriculum and Academic Staff Development.

In her presentation, Prof. Malebo outlined CUT’s institutional approaches, emphasising the need for stronger integration of student support and high-impact pedagogies within ECP curriculum design and broader academic planning.

Despite a national investment exceeding R6.2 billion by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Summit highlighted persistent challenges facing ECPs. These include funding instability, staffing insecurity, fragmented governance, and the continued marginalisation of ECPs within institutional planning frameworks.

The Summit concluded with agreement on several key national priorities, including the establishment of a coordinating structure; strengthened engagement with DHET; consolidation of ECP research; clarification of policy guidelines; and expanded sector-wide collaboration. A National ECP Steering Committee was constituted to sustain momentum. Notably, Dr Róan Slabbert was appointed as one of the Free State representatives, ensuring CUT’s active participation in national ECP leadership and decision-making structures.

CUT’s strong participation, leadership presence, and representation on national platforms signal a clear institutional commitment to positioning ECPs at the centre of academic planning and student success.