Leading Higher Health’s Vision for South Africa’s Youth

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia, the CEO of Higher Health, has embarked on an ambitious journey to equip South African youth with essential “Skills for Life” and soft skills aimed at empowering personal and professional growth. Higher Health, operating under South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), reaches over 2.5 million students across universities, TVET colleges, and CET colleges. Its programs deliver comprehensive health, wellness, and psychosocial services, aiming to foster resilience, mental well-being, and essential life skills.

A Journey of Purpose

We started the interview by asking, “Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to focus on healthcare, particularly in South Africa?”

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “My journey in healthcare began in India, where I earned my medical degree, and later expanded globally with my work in countries like Germany and Mauritius. South Africa, however, provided a unique challenge and opportunity due to the magnitude of health and social issues here, particularly HIV, TB, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancy, maternal death and mental health crises among others.

Positioning Higher Health

Vocal Media: In your perspective, how would you describe Higher Health as an organisation, and where does it currently stand within its market?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “Higher Health is a national agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa. Its primary mission is to inspire success and promote holistic health, well-being and psychosocial support services in 2.5 million students across 26 universities, 50 public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, and 9 Community Education and Training (CET) colleges.

Top 10 Soft Skills of the workplace, such as:

1. Empathy, Listening and Counselling;
2. Civic Responsibility and Peer Education;
3. Conflict Resolution;
4. Creativity, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving;
5. Decision Making;
6. Digital Literacy;
7. Presentation Skills, Public Speaking and Communication;
8. Resilience, Confidence and Self-Motivation;
9. Teamwork, Organizational Skills and Leadership Skills; and
10. Time-Management and Goal-Setting

Empowering Youth Globally

Vocal Media: Can you tell us about your vision and impact of the Skills for Life and Soft Skills online programme? How is Higher Health working to ensure that young people around the world gain access to essential skills that not only improve employability but also contribute to their overall growth and well-being?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “My passion is in empowering every young person with the skills they need for life - skills that go beyond academics or vocational training. I’m honoured to say that Higher Health is now acknowledged globally as a key partner of UNESCO, making us Africa’s second leading nonprofit partner for UNESCO. My vision is that the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, shouldn’t just stay at the policy level among decision-makers. They need to reach every young person directly, in ways they can relate to and understand, ideally in their language of choice.

Structure of the Skills Qualification

Vocal Media: Can you explain the structure of the Skills for Life and Soft Skills online qualification?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “The qualification is divided into eight comprehensive modules, each designed to address different challenges that youth face today. These modules include Civic Education, Gender Education, Mental Health, Disability, Sexuality Education, Substance Abuse and Resilience, Climate Change, and Financial Literacy. Each module is credit-bearing. After the successful completion of each module, a student receives a Certificate which can be added to their Curriculum Vitae (CV) and also shared on their professional and social networks such as LinkedIn.”

Transforming Student Health

Vocal Media: Higher Health has become a leader in addressing student health, wellness and psychosocial support in South Africa. What do you consider the organization’s most significant achievement so far?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “One of our most significant achievements has been the successful integration of holistic health, well-being and psychosocial support services into the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector. Our programmes reach over 2.5 million students annually in 26 public Universities, 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges and 9 Community Education and Training (CET) Colleges across South Africa, providing crucial services like primary healthcare, HIV testing, mental health support, and gender-based violence (GBV) interventions among others.

Tackling Gender-Based Violence

Vocal Media: What is the most pressing challenge that Higher Health faces today, and how are you tackling it?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “The most pressing challenge we face today is gender-based violence. The Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector is home to over 2.5 million youth, including more than 51% adolescent girls and young women, and faces a serious GBV crisis. The statistics are alarming, with South African women experiencing a lifetime risk of 45.6% for GBVF, well above the global average. Furthermore, 10% of all reported rape cases in the country occur within the higher education sector, underscoring the urgent need for intervention.

Key Milestones & Transformative Experiences

Vocal Media: Can you share the key milestones and experiences that have shaped your successful career over the past two decades?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “My journey has been a tapestry woven with significant milestones and meaningful experiences. At its core, I began as a medical doctor, a role that not only bestowed upon me the knowledge of healing but also instilled a profound sense of humility and a human-centric approach in my leadership style. Writing the inaugural chapter for the BRICS academic forum, launched by former President Zuma, marked a pivotal moment, opening doors to cross-border collaboration and my involvement in ministerial task teams in South Africa.

Leadership Lessons

Vocal Media: What advice would you, as an established leader in the industry, offer to emerging leaders who are looking to make their mark and succeed in their respective fields?

Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia replied, “The advice I would like to impart to emerging leaders is to embody humility, embrace patience, and be perpetual learners. Remember, as a leader, your role is to uplift and empower those around you, and to truly understand them, you must learn from them and be the people you aim to lead.”

Vision for the Future

Lastly we asked, “Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Higher Health, and how do you see it evolving in the next 5-10 years?”

“In the next 5-10 years, I see Higher Health expanding its reach and impact, not just in Africa but across the globe. We aim to continue growing our holistic health, well-being and psychosocial support services and educational programs, with a focus on integrating digital health solutions and making healthcare more accessible. We also want to further develop our partnerships with international organizations like UNESCO to ensure that our programs are globally recognized and continue to set new standards in student health, well-being and psychosocial support services.

Connect Dr. Ramneek Ahluwalia on LinkedIn