A New Era Rising: Expo, National Media Awards, and a Presidential Meeting to Redefine Higher Education in 2026
The Director-General of the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA), Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, has unveiled a bold strategic outlook for 2026, announcing Zambia’s first-ever Higher Education Expo, the inaugural National Higher Education Media Awards, and a historic engagement between the country’s Full Professors and His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.
Professor Chinsembu made the announcement during HEA’s Summer School Media Training Workshop while delivering a presentation titled “Where Higher Education is Headed: HEA’s Strategic Direction and National Priorities.”
The Director-General’s address signalled a sector stepping into a new era deliberately, boldly and unmistakably.
Professor Chinsembu explained that the Higher Education Expo in 2026 is intended to position Zambia’s higher education subsector as a gateway for internationalisation, innovation and economic value, with the potential to contribute meaningfully to national revenue.
The Director-General further revealed that 2026 will usher in the inaugural National Higher Education Awards, recognising excellence in media reporting and affirming the powerful role of storytelling in shaping the sector.
The year will also be marked by a landmark meeting between Zambia’s Full Professors and the President, alongside the publication of an official register of genuine professors, a move aimed at strengthening integrity and public trust in higher education.
The two-day Summer School Media Training Workshop, being held on 10th and 11th February, 2025, at Sarovah Hotel in Lusaka, seeks to enhance accurate, informed and contextual reporting on higher education regulation, quality assurance and policy implementation in Zambia.
Do not miss the forthcoming full article unpacking the Director-General’s strategic vision for the future of higher education.
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