From Process to Precision: HEA Redefines Programme Accreditation Through QAMIS
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has set out a clear and structured roadmap for programme accreditation, signalling a decisive move from process-heavy systems to precision-driven quality assurance through its newly introduced Quality Assurance Management Information System (QAMIS).
This was outlined by Acting Manager – Programme Accreditation, Mrs. Bertha Miyanda-Simuyandi, during her presentation at the ongoing five (5)-day QAMIS Orientation Training Workshop being held at Sandy’s Creation Resort in Chilanga from Monday, 23rd to Friday, 27th March, 2026,.
Addressing participants drawn from 50 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Mrs. Miyanda-Simuyandi unpacked the full lifecycle of accreditation, positioning it not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as the pillar of academic integrity and student protection in Zambia’s higher education subsector.
She explained that accreditation is the Authority’s seal of approval, ensuring that learning programmes are credible, compliant with the law and capable of producing graduates whose qualifications hold real value in the labour market.
At the centre of this process is a rigorous 5-step journey of submission, internal review, site verification, reporting, and final decision-making, each designed to test not just the paperwork, but the reality behind it.
From curriculum relevance and staffing qualifications to infrastructure readiness and institutional sustainability, the process demands that institutions demonstrate their capacity to deliver quality education, not in theory, but in practice.
However, Mrs. Miyanda-Simuyandi was clear that while the framework is strong, the shift to QAMIS is what will transform it.
“With the migration from email-based submissions to a fully digital platform, HEIs will now be able to submit applications online, track progress in real time, and engage with a system that is faster, more transparent, and significantly more efficient,” she said.
The Acting Manager – Programme Accreditation further stated this transition marked a critical evolution in how accreditation is managed, moving from static processes to a dynamic system that enhances accountability, reduces delays and strengthens collaboration between HEA and institutions.
The QAMIS Orientation Training Workshop is designed to equip HEIs with the practical skills needed to navigate this new system, ensuring that the transition is not only smooth, but impactful.
As the Authority continues to digitise its operations, one thing is becoming clear: accreditation is no longer just a process, it is becoming a system of precision, powered by data, driven by standards, and anchored on quality.
The QAMIS system has been developed by the SMART Zambia Institute in collaboration with the HEA development team led by Mr. Francis Kawesha, Senior Information Technology Officer.
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