A Systematic Literature Review: Towards Developing a Data Privacy Framework for Higher Education Institutions in South Africa

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) act as custodians of extensive personal information and intellectual property, making data privacy a critical challenge in the digital age. This study conducts a systematic literature review to identify existing data privacy frameworks and guidelines, with a focus on addressing the absence of a customized data privacy framework for South African universities. The research questions guiding this study were: (1) What are the existing data privacy frameworks for institutions across different industries, including higher education institutions (HEIs), beyond South Africa? and (2) What are the key factors to consider in developing a data privacy framework for the higher education sector in South Africa? The study reveals while data privacy frameworks have been developed in various countries, there is a lack of a tailored framework for South African HEIs. The findings of this study will propose factors towards the development of a data privacy framework specifically designed for HEIs in South Africa and considering regulatory context of the country.