Higher education is becoming more complex regarding local competitiveness, international recognition, education quality, economic growth, and modernisation. This article explores how South African higher education institutions (HEIs), embedded in networks of collective intelligence, can be responsive to local demands while competing in the global knowledge society to improve the South African HE system. It departs from the proposition that HEIs should be aligned with, motivated by, and open to share and influence distinct changes and rapid transformation of HE experiences to preserve nation-building, modernisation and self-development aspirations. Systematic review methodology was followed to identify common themes and differences on how modernisation in a global setting should be approached while simultaneously sustaining and enhancing nation-building and self-development in South Africa. The findings indicate that collective intell