Thandi Lewin works in the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET} as the Chief Director for Institutional Governance and Management Support in the University Education branch. Her responsibilities include student funding policy, oversight of NSFAS, university governance oversight. and student development and support matters, amongst other areas. Since February 2021 she has been acting as the Deputy Director-General for University Education.
Previously she coordinated the development of a National Plan for Post-School Education and Training. Prior to that she worked for JET
Education Services, where she was responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation; and the Department of Education, as a Chief Director for Equity in Education and later for University Policy. She has also worked in the non-profit, university, and philanthropic sectors. Her work has been broadly in the field of higher education policy and education and social justice.
She holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Cape Town, a Master’s in Education and International Development from University College London Institute of Education, and a PhD from the University of the Free State.