The Higher Education Act, No. 101 of 1997 (reference: Higher Education Act 101 of 1997) sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and its permanent committee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), with regard to policy and quality assurance related matters in the higher education sector.

In terms of these responsibilities, the CHE is required to audit the quality of teaching and learning, research and community engagement at South Africa's higher education institutions.

It does this in collaboration with the institutions, which have the primary responsibility for putting in place and operating academic quality assurance and enhancement systems.

The quality audit function of the CHE is carried out by the Institutional Audits Directorate, supported by the Institutional Audits Committee.