Choosing a public university or private higher education institution is one of the biggest decisions a student will make, and one of the most complex. While many students already hold offers for 2026, thousands are still weighing their options as the academic year approaches.
For these students, and for high school learners planning ahead, looking beyond glossy brochures and polished open days is essential.
“For some, choosing a higher education institution is about taking a first independent step,” says Nadia Landman, Head of Academic Quality Management Systems at ADvTECH’s Independent Institute of Education. “For others, it’s about returning to study after years in the workplace, balancing lectures with meetings, and assignments with family life.”
She believes prospective students need a realistic sense of what daily life will look like once lectures start and pressure sets in.
When reality hits and support matters most
The real test of a higher education institution rarely happens in the first week. It happens later, when deadlines collide, confidence dips, work stress builds, and personal responsibilities continue alongside study.
“Every institution talks about student support,” Landman says. “What matters is whether that support is visible and accessible when students start to struggle, not only after they’ve failed.”
For parents, this means asking how first-year students who fall behind are identified and supported early. For adult learners, the questions shift to practicality. Who do you contact when work deadlines clash with assessments? Are lectures recorded? How flexible are support structures when life intervenes?
Institutions that understand students’ realities can answer these questions clearly and honestly.
Who is actually doing the teaching
Behind every qualification is a lecturer responsible for turning content into learning. Qualifications matter, but so does engagement, accessibility and accountability.
“Adult learners bring professional experience, practical questions and limited time,” Landman explains. “Parents want reassurance that lecturers are attentive, responsive and supported to teach well.”
Strong institutions invest in lecturer development and take student feedback seriously, using it to improve teaching quality rather than treating it as a tick-box exercise.
Preparing students for the real world
A qualification alone no longer guarantees employment. Parents worry about employability, while adult learners worry about relevance. At the core, both are asking the same question: will this programme prepare me for a changing world?
“Curricula should evolve with industry, technology and society,” says Landman. “Institutions committed to quality review their programmes regularly, involve industry voices, and include work-integrated learning where possible.”
Assessment, she adds, should test real-world problem-solving rather than only academic recall. The goal is capability, not simply completion.
Why quality and governance protect your future
Accreditation, moderation and academic integrity may sound administrative, but they protect the value of a qualification and the effort invested in earning it.
“Quality systems are about fairness and credibility,” Landman says. “They ensure consistency whether you’re studying full-time straight out of school or part-time while working.”
One of the clearest indicators of this commitment is everyday service. How quickly are emails answered? Are questions handled with empathy? Is communication clear and respectful?
Over time, these interactions reveal whether an institution is built around rigid systems or around students with real lives.
Choosing with intention
“Higher education is not a transaction,” Landman concludes. “It’s a commitment of time, energy and belief in a better future. Parents may not walk their children’s journey. Adult learners may not have the luxury of starting over if things go wrong.”
She believes the strongest institutions are not defined by the loudest marketing claims, but by their willingness to answer difficult questions openly and thoughtfully.
“Moving beyond the brochure starts with asking the right questions early and choosing an institution that is designed to support success, not just enrolment.”
