In accordance with the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997) as amended, the following are the main areas of activity for the National Institute

• Coordinate the regional provision of higher education;
• Ensure coherent provision of higher education through programme collaboration with public higher education institutions operating in the Mpumalanga province;
• Advise the Minister on matters relating to the coordination of the provision of higher education in the Mpumalanga Province; and
• Perform any other duty, which may be prescribed.

The National Institute for Higher Education: Mpumalanga operates as a public entity within the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999), and derives its mandate through the Higher Education Act, as amended.