Sharing Best Audit Practices in Higher Education with SAIs of African Countries

On March 20, 2026, the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation hosted a multilateral knowledge-sharing seminar on “Best Practices of Audit of Education” with the participation of supreme audit institutions of African countries. Issues related to assessing the effectiveness of the higher education sector generated significant interest among specialists from SAIs of 15 African countries.

Mr. Dmitry Zaitsev, Auditor, Member of the Board of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, presented a comprehensive approach to auditing the higher education sector in Russia. He provided a detailed overview of the country’s higher education system, highlighted the systemic violations identified based on audits in universities, and introduced the Accounts Chamber’s digital product for universities’ performance monitoring. The speaker paid particular attention to theme-based audits of public initiatives and projects related to university development support, including the Project 5-100 Academic Leadership Program, the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program, and development programs for Lomonosov Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University.

Ms. Mona Fahmy, General Manager of the Accountability State Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt, shared the SAI’s best practices in auditing the higher education and scientific research system within the context of crossing into the knowledge economy. She elaborated in detail on the legal framework and strategic programs, as well as audit methodology in a landscape of the institutional diversity and multiple funding sources. The speaker also highlighted the impacts of digitalization and results of a strategic SWOT analysis of the oversight environment in Egypt.

The speech by Ms. Zamahlangu Mditshwa, Acting Business Unit Leader of the Auditor-General of South Africa, focused on the role of SAI South Africa in the implementation of national strategic priorities to increase employment through improving the quality of education, developing professional skills, and fostering innovation. Particular emphasis was placed on the implementation of the Auditor-General of South Africa’s #CultureShift2030 Strategy, aimed at transforming public sector culture with a strong focus on accountability and integrity.

During the discussion, Ms. Amira El Mechri, Section President of the Court of Accounts of the Republic of Tunisia, presented the SAI’s activities in auditing the accreditation processes of private higher education institutions, educational programs, and university-provided services for students including catering, housing and scholarships. Ms. El Mechri shared recommendations for enhancing oversight, including implementing an institutional reform, strengthening monitoring of teaching staff performance, and tracking investment flows in infrastructure.

During the seminar, moderator of the meeting, Mr. Timur Makhmutov, Director of the Department for International and Regional Cooperation of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, noted that the education sector is the foundation for human capital development and a key driver of economic growth. Therefore, given limited resources, every investment in education should contribute to achieving national strategic goals.

In conclusion, representatives from African SAIs expressed their appreciation for the Accounts Chamber’s initiatives in promoting experience exchange and emphasized the practical significance of the discussion held.