The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) recently held a consultative meeting with Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrars and Quality Assurance Managers. The main purpose of the meeting was to present the HEQC's proposed MoU strategy, and to consult public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on the implications of the strategy for institutional preparations for external quality assurance. This opportunity was also used to brief higher education institutions on key plans and schedules of the HEQC regarding the new audit and accreditation systems, which are due to be implemented in 2004, and other issues related to quality assurance (QA) in higher education (HE).