Cap. 25:27 6 Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act No. 1/2006 Functions of Council Without prejudice to the generality of section 5, the functions of the Council shall be(a) to advise the Minister on all higher education matters; and (b) to develop and recommend policy on higher education including the establishment of public institutions and advise the Minister accordingly; and (c) to accredit institutions of higher education; and (d) to design and recommend an institutional quality assurance system for higher education, that is, a system whereby the courses, programmes and degrees offered by institutions are evaluated on a regular and objective basis, and to recommend to the Minister institutional quality assurance standards for(i) the establishment, standardization and accreditation of institutions of higher education including standards of the physical plant and equipment; and (ii) the preparation and amendment of university charters and statutes; and (iii) the development of curricula; and (iv) the standards of libraries; and (v) the safety standards of laboratories and workshops; and (vi) student transfer between programmes and institutions of higher education; and (e) to advise on the shape and size of the higher education system; and (f) to advise on the budgeting and funding arrangements for higher education for public institutions; and (g) to assist institutions of higher education in the training of high calibre staff; and (h) to promote equity in access to higher education through the provision of student assistance programmes; and (i) to promote international co-operation and facilitate exchanges in higher education; and (j) to perform any other function that the Minister may deem necessary. 7 Membership of Council (1) The Council shall consist of the following members(a) a chairperson appointed by the Minister; and (b) a vice-chairperson appointed by the Minister; and (c) nine members who are not members of the Public Service, of whom at least three shall be external to the higher education sector, appointed by the Minister in accordance with subsection (3); and (d) three Secretaries of Ministries that the Minister, in consultation with the Ministers concerned, considers to be relevant to the development of higher education; and (e) three vice-chancellors appointed by the Minister to represent public and private institutions respectively; and (f) the Chief Executive Officer of the Council; and (g) three members of international repute co-opted by members appointed in terms of paragraphs (a), (c), (d) and (e). -5-