HEA – Higher Education Authority

From Choma to the Classroom: Why HEA’s Director-General Takes Higher Education to the People

HEA — Tue, 26 May 2026 08:45:42 +0000

On a Friday afternoon in Choma, the Director-General of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) sat across from a radio host and spoke for an hour, not to policymakers or university vice-chancellors, but to the farmers, parents, students and community members tuned into Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM.

It was, in the clearest possible terms, a deliberate choice. For Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, stakeholder engagement is not a line item in a schedule. It is the mechanism through which HEA’s mandate becomes real, through which regulation, accreditation and quality assurance stop being abstract bureaucratic processes and start meaning something to the young person in Chibombo or Monze wondering whether the college down the road is worth trusting with their future.

The visit to Choma forms part of the Authority’s Strategic Objective No. 2 under its Strategic Plan 2022–2026. But what the Strategic Plan describes in policy language, the Director-General translates in plain terms on community radio: check whether your institution is registered. Make sure your programme is accredited. Do not hand over your future to an institution that cannot account for itself.

“We want Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to embrace AI in a responsible manner,” Professor Chinsembu told listeners, pivoting from compliance to opportunity, adding, “AI can help us to accelerate the development of various knowledge solutions, drug discovery, diagnostics, agriculture.”

The breadth of the conversation was intentional. In the same hour, Professor Chinsembu spoke about free education as an economic strategy, about drought-resistant crops as a legitimate research priority for Southern Province universities, about the shift from theory to competence-based curricula, and about the two checks every student must make before enrolling anywhere.

None of it was ceremonial. HEA’s engagement model is built on a recognition that information asymmetry is one of the biggest risks in Zambia’s higher education landscape. Students enrol in unregistered institutions because no one told them to check. Colleges drift away from community relevance because no one demanded accountability. Institutions treat AI as either a threat or a toy because guidance has not reached them.

Professor Chinsembu’s answer to all of this is to show up in Choma, on the radio, in the language the community uses, and make the case directly.

“The starting point for transformation of our economy should and must be higher education,” he said, concluding, “We must bring higher education back into the centre.”

For HEA, that work does not begin in Lusaka. It begins with a microphone in Choma, and a Director-General willing to spend an hour making the argument to anyone who will listen.

Listen to Professor Chinsembu’s full 1 hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM here: https://youtu.be/GR7mABU7UC8.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Higher Education Authority (HEA) │ 2^nd Floor, Engineering House │ Stand No. 2374, Kelvin Siwale Road │ P.O. Box 50795, Ridgeway, Lusaka │ +260 976 936 658│ info@hea.org.zm │ www.hea.org.zm

“AI Is Coming to Zambia’s Universities” – HEA Director-General Says the Question Is Not Whether, But How

HEA — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:52:44 +0000

The Director-General of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, has stated that artificial intelligence has already arrived in Zambia’s colleges and universities, and the question the higher education subsector must now answer is not whether to embrace it, but how to use it responsibly and productively.

Professor Chinsembu made these remarks during a live one-hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM on Friday, 22^nd May, 2026, as part of his stakeholder engagement tour of Southern Province. The engagement is part of Strategic Objective No. 2 of HEA’s Strategic Plan 2022–2026, through which the Authority takes its regulatory and policy positions directly to the public, including students, parents, educators and community leaders.

“AI is becoming ubiquitous in higher education,” the Director-General said, continuing, “It is now everywhere and we want Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to embrace AI, to embrace artificial intelligence in a responsible manner, in a way that helps our students to engage in critical thinking.”

Professor Chinsembu was clear that the concern is not AI itself, but it is what students do with it. He drew a sharp distinction between using AI as a shortcut for copying and pasting, and using it as a tool for problem-solving, entrepreneurship and innovation.

“HEA wants students doing the latter,” Professor Chinsembu said, adding, “We would like our students to use AI to help them to solve problems, to think critically, and to help our students to become more practical, more entrepreneurial. We want our students to use AI to build enterprises, to create employment for themselves and others.”

The Director-General pointed to specific sectors where AI holds transformative potential for Zambia: drug discovery, medical diagnostics, mining and agriculture.

He argued that these were not distant possibilities, but were areas where Zambian students and researchers, if properly equipped, could make a real national contribution.

HEA, he added, is developing a National Higher Education Strategy specifically for AI, a framework that will guide HEIs on responsible adoption and ensure that the revolution benefits students rather than undermining the integrity of their learning.

“The bottom line is that we should be able to use AI to increase intellectual curiosity and innovation,” Professor Chinsembu said, concluding, “And to help convert knowledge into solutions for ourselves as a country.”

Listen to Professor Chinsembu’s full 1 hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM here: https://youtu.be/GR7mABU7UC8.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

#NGS2025 #NationalGraduateSurvey

Follow the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@HEAZambia) and join the conversation using #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia. Higher Education Authority (HEA) │ 2^nd Floor, Engineering House │ Stand No. 2374, Kelvin Siwale Road │ P.O. Box 50795, Ridgeway, Lusaka │ +260 976 936 658│ info@hea.org.zm │ www.hea.org.zm

“Always Check Before You Enrol as Unregistered Institutions Remain a Risk” – Professor Chinsembu Warns Students

HEA — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:46:10 +0000

The Director-General of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, has issued a direct warning to prospective students across Zambia that before enrolling in any college or university, they should verify that the institution is registered and that the programme is accredited, or risk wasting years and money on qualifications that will not be recognised.

The caution came during a live interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM on Friday, 22^nd May, 2026, as part of the Director-General’s stakeholder engagement tour of Southern Province under HEA’s Strategic Plan 2022–2026. The Authority’s engagement with communities is a central part of how it fulfils its mandate to protect students, not only through regulation and inspection, but through direct public education.

“Students should always check our website,” Professor Chinsembu said, adding, “We have a gazette of registered higher education institutions for 2026 and we produce this gazette every year. We also have a gazette of the accredited programmes.”

The Director-General’s message was clear and practical: two checks, every time. First, confirm that the institution is registered by the HEA. Second, confirm that the specific programme, whether a certificate, diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s, is accredited.

“A prospective student must always make sure that the programme is accredited,” he said, continuing, “These are the two most important things, the institution must be registered and the programme must be accredited.”

The warning reflects one of HEA’s core functions as the Authority conducts surveillance operations to detect and act against illegal colleges operating without registration, institutions that can ensnare students who have no way of knowing they are enrolling somewhere unrecognised.

Therefore, by taking the message to radio audiences in Choma and surrounding districts, Professor Chinsembu extended that protection beyond the institutions HEA directly inspects and into the hands of the public.

The HEA’s full gazette of registered institutions and accredited programmes is available on the Authority’s official website, here: https://hea.org.zm/downloads/gazette-notice-2/.

Listen to Professor Chinsembu’s full 1 hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM here: https://youtu.be/GR7mABU7UC8.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

#NGS2025 #NationalGraduateSurvey

Follow the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@HEAZambia) and join the conversation using #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia.

HEA Pushes Universities to Solve Southern Province’s Drought and Food Challenges, with the Director-General Making Case for Locally Relevant Higher Education

HEA — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:37:16 +0000

The Director-General of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, has challenged higher education institutions in Southern Province to stop operating in isolation from the communities around them and to redirect their research and training toward solving the province’s most pressing problems, including drought, food insecurity, water scarcity and lack of affordable building materials.

Speaking during a live one-hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM, on Friday, 22^nd May, 2026, Professor Chinsembu said relevance is not optional for colleges and universities, it is a responsibility.

“If we have a college here in Choma, that college must address the challenges that the people in Choma are facing,” he said.

The remarks were made as part of the Director-General’s ongoing stakeholder engagement across the country, conducted under Strategic Objective No. 2 of HEA’s Strategic Plan 2022–2026. For the Authority, these engagements are about accountability through ensuring that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) understand what is expected of them not just in terms of regulatory compliance, but in terms of their contribution to the societies that host them.

In Southern Province, Professor Chinsembu said, the realities of lower rainfall and recurring drought make it essential that HEI prioritise research into drought-resistant crop varieties, including sorghum, maize and millet, as well as livestock breeding adapted to drier conditions.

He went further to argue that HEIs should be producing research into medicinal plants with scientifically validated remedies, developing cheaper and more durable local building materials, and equipping students with the vocational skills to convert the province’s natural resources into marketable products.

“Our institutions should be able to provide solutions, practical solutions for our people,” he said, continuing, “If our people lack clean water, institutions should do research to provide solutions.”

Critically, Professor Chinsembu said this cannot happen without community-based learning, which would require a structural shift in how HEIs deploy their students. Students must spend time in communities, in industry and in the field, not just in lecture halls.

“The students that are produced by Higher Education Institutions should be society-ready,” he said, adding, “And they can only be society-ready if they start to engage with the actual problems that are faced by the community.”

The message was a direct challenge to HEIs across the province that HEA is watching not just for regulatory compliance, but for real-world impact.

Listen to Professor Chinsembu’s full 1 hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM here: https://youtu.be/GR7mABU7UC8.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

#NGS2025 #NationalGraduateSurvey

Follow the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@HEAZambia) and join the conversation using #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia.

Professor Chinsembu Explains Why Free Education is Just the Beginning and Why Higher Education Must Be at the Centre of Zambia’s Economic Future

HEA — Tue, 26 May 2026 06:27:44 +0000

The Director-General of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, has said that Zambia’s ambition to double its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) cannot be achieved without placing higher education at the heart of national development, adding that the Government of the Republic of Zambia’s provision of free education is a deliberate investment in that vision, not a social welfare gesture.

Professor Chinsembu made the remarks on Friday, 22^nd May, 2026, during a one-hour live interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM as part of his ongoing stakeholder engagement tour of Southern Province. The visit falls under Strategic Objective No. 2 of HEA’s Strategic Plan 2022–2026, which positions stakeholder engagement not as a public relations exercise but as a core function of the Authority’s mandate to coordinate, regulate, supervise and monitor standards of higher education across Zambia.

“The starting point for building a resilient economy, the starting point for doubling our GDP, the starting point for transformation of our economy should and must be higher education,” Professor Chinsembu said, continuing, “This is why the government is providing free education, because education is the starting point.”

The Director-General was unambiguous about the reasoning, stating that higher education is the only pipeline through which Zambia produces the engineers, doctors, teachers, scientists, accountants, ICT specialists, agricultural experts and entrepreneurs that a growing economy demands.

“We cannot develop as a country if we don’t have these experts,” he said, adding, “We need competent workers in industry, we need workers that are productive, and we need to push economic growth.”

Professor Chinsembu’s message reframes free education as an economic strategy, one whose returns depend entirely on whether Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are producing graduates with the right competencies. That, he argued, is where the HEA’s role becomes decisive.

The Authority, he explained, is actively pushing HEIs to shift from theory-heavy curricula toward competence-based programmes designed to produce graduates who can build enterprises, commercialise knowledge and create employment, not merely seek it.

For HEA, the Choma engagement is part of a deliberate pattern by the Director-General of stakeholder engagements across provinces that are designed to carry the Authority’s message directly to communities, parents, students and institutions, in order to listen to what is happening on the ground. It is impact, not itinerary, that the Authority measures.

Listen to Professor Chinsembu’s full 1 hour interview on Choma Maanu Radio Station 95.1FM here: https://youtu.be/GR7mABU7UC8

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

#NGS2025 #NationalGraduateSurvey

Follow the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@HEAZambia) and join the conversation using #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia.

Beyond Merely Drafting the Press Release: Inside Government PR and Crisis Communication in Siavonga

HEA — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:23:00 +0000

Over the past week, Siavonga became more than just a scenic lakeside destination. It became a meeting point for Government communicators from across Zambia, brought together by a shared responsibility that is often unseen, but increasingly critical, protecting public trust through communication.

From Ministries and regulatory bodies to public institutions and agencies, over 40 public relations and communications practitioners gathered for the 2026 Government Public Relations and Crisis Management Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme organised by the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Educational Trust (ZAMCOM).

Representing the Higher Education Authority (HEA), I joined communication professionals from across Government at a time when public communication is evolving faster than ever before.

In today’s digital environment, information moves instantly. A single statement, social media post, delayed response, or misunderstood message can shape public perception within minutes. For institutions charged with public service delivery, communication is no longer simply about publicity, it is about trust, credibility, responsiveness and leadership.

Throughout the training, one message remained constant: communication is now a strategic function of governance.

Sessions on Managing Institutional Reputation, Developing Strategic Messages in Crisis Communication, Social Media Ethics and Public Trust, and Managing Viral Crises in the Digital Age highlighted the growing responsibility communication professionals carry within public institutions.

One of the strongest takeaways from the programme was the importance of preparedness. Crisis communication is no longer only about responding when something goes wrong. Institutions must anticipate risks, understand stakeholder expectations, develop communication plans in advance and respond with clarity, accuracy and empathy.

Officially opening the programme, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, Mr. Thabo Kawana, reminded participants that communication professionals are often the first line of defence during moments of uncertainty.

“When we communicate effectively, we protect institutions,” Mr. Kawana said, adding, “When we communicate with integrity, we build trust and when we communicate with purpose, we strengthen our nation.”

For HEA, the lessons from the training are directly relevant to the Authority’s role in regulating higher education, strengthening stakeholder engagement and promoting public confidence in the higher education subsector.

Whether communicating accreditation decisions, public notices, policy directions, institutional engagements, student matters or national higher education developments, strategic communication remains central to ensuring that stakeholders receive timely, accurate and meaningful information.

The programme also created an opportunity for collaboration among Government communicators facing similar challenges in an increasingly fast-moving media environment.

Beyond the presentations and discussions, the interactions between practitioners reflected a growing recognition that communication professionals within public institutions must continue learning, adapting and supporting one another as the information landscape evolves.

And, perhaps that was one of the most important lessons from Siavonga that behind every Government statement, media interview, public notice, institutional response or crisis briefing are communication professionals constantly working to ensure that information remains factual, responsible and in the public interest.

For HEA, continued investment in professional development remains part of strengthening institutional effectiveness under Strategic Objective No. 2 of the HEA Strategic Plan 2022–2026 on Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement. Because in modern governance, communication is not an accessory to public service, it is part of the service itself.

I wish to express sincere appreciation to the Director-General, Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, for the opportunity to participate in this important programme. His continued support towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD) within the Corporate Communications Unit reflects HEA’s commitment to building institutional capacity and ensuring that officers are equipped with the skills necessary to communicate effectively in an evolving public information environment.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

Commitment to Continuous Learning: The Ministry of Education and its affiliate bodies were strongly represented at the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) workshop.

Captured here are (L-R): Mr. Jeff Banda, Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Education; Ms. Coretta Soko, Public Relations Officer at the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ); and, Mr. Musoba.
Collaboration For Impact: Mr. Musoba poses with Mr. Morden Mumanga Mayembe (L), Director of Press and Media Engagement at the Ministry of Information and Media. The Director led a Ministerial team to assist the Authority in developing its Stakeholder Management Plan, Communication Strategy, and subsequent Implementation Plan for the Strategy.
Sharing Crisis Expertise: Ms. Namakau V. Mukelabai, Head of Corporate Communication at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), shares her firsthand experience on steering her corporate team at IDC through organisational crises. As Mr. Musoba looks on, she highlights the critical role PR and Communications Specialists play in effectively navigating unexpected challenges.
Managing Media Dynamics: Mr. Banda shares his insights on the interactive relationship between PR practitioners and the press. As Mr. Musoba listens intently, the submission addresses effective management strategies to foster balanced, collaborative engagement between organisations and media houses.
A Seat at the Boardroom Table: Mr. Musoba follows the intense deliberations from various public institutions regarding the role of PR in modern governance. The discussion heavily emphasised the necessity of elevating PR representation to the Boardroom level due to its immense strategic value in crisis management.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Mr. Musoba participates in a breakout group session addressing the systemic challenges faced by PR and communications professionals within public institutions. The resulting group submissions will be compiled and presented to the Ministry of Information and Media to drive tangible, policy-led transformation across the sector.

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

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HEA Strengthens Strategic Communication Through Government PR and Crisis Management Training

HEA — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:27:38 +0000

The Higher Education Authority (HEA)has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional communication, stakeholder engagement and public trust through continued investment in staff development, following the participation of its Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Birbal Boniface Musoba, in the 2026 Government Public Relations and Crisis Management Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme in Siavonga.

The training programme, organised by the Ministry of Information and Media through the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication Educational Trust (ZAMCOM), is being held from 18^th to 22^nd May, 2026, and attracted over 40 public relations and communication practitioners from Government Ministries, Provinces, Parastatals and Agencies across Zambia.

Participants include communication professionals from the Ministry of Education, HEA’s parent Ministry, as well as the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ), among other public institutions.

The programme is designed to strengthen strategic communication capacity across Government by enhancing public relations practice, crisis communication preparedness, institutional reputation management, and modern government communication standards.

HEA Director-General, Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, nominated Mr. Musoba to participate in the training as part of the Authority’s broader commitment to strengthening stakeholder engagement and institutional communication under Strategic Objective No. 2 of the HEA Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026.

Professor Chinsembu stated that effective communication remains central to the Authority’s mandate of regulating higher education, promoting quality assurance and strengthening public confidence in the higher education subsector.

“The higher education environment continues to evolve rapidly, requiring institutions such as HEA to communicate with greater clarity, professionalism and responsiveness,” he said, adding, “This training is important because it strengthens the Authority’s capacity in strategic communication, crisis preparedness, stakeholder engagement and institutional reputation management, all of which are essential to public service delivery and public trust.”

The Director-General further noted that investment in staff development reflects HEA’s commitment to building a responsive and forward-looking institution capable of communicating effectively with stakeholders in an increasingly digital and fast-paced information environment.

Officially opening the training, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Media, Mr. Thabo Kawana, described communication as the foundation of governance and emphasised the critical role public relations practitioners play in strengthening public trust and institutional credibility.

“Public relations serves as the critical link between Government and the people we serve,” Mr. Kawana said, adding, “When communication is clear, timely, and truthful, it strengthens public trust, enhances institutional credibility, and empowers citizens to participate meaningfully in national development.”

The Permanent Secretary warned that ineffective communication during times of crisis can lead to misinformation, confusion and erosion of public confidence, stressing that communication professionals are often the first responders in moments requiring clarity, reassurance and accurate public information.

Mr. Kawana further urged institutions to prioritise crisis preparedness and strategic communication, stating that communication must be proactive rather than reactive.

The training programme includes sessions on Managing Government Public Relations, Managing Institutional Reputation, Crisis Preparation and Risk Assessment, Social Media Ethics and Public Trust in Crisis Communication, Developing Strategic Messages in Crisis Communication, Managing Viral Crises and Online Reputation in the Digital Age, Media Relations during Crisis, Designing Crisis Communication Plans, and Post-Crisis Communication and Brand Management.

This marks the second CPD training for public institutions conducted by ZAMCOM, following the successful inaugural training held in Livingstone in 2025, which attracted over 50 public relations practitioners from public institutions across Zambia.

HEA remains committed to strengthening professional excellence among staff as part of enhancing institutional effectiveness, stakeholder engagement and service delivery within the higher education subsector.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

Driving the Communication Agenda: Mr. Thabo Kawana delivers his keynote address to officially open the CPD workshop. In his remarks, he emphasised the strategic value of public relations and media engagement in fostering national development and corporate transparency.

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Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

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HEA Calls on HEIs to Showcase Research and Innovation Driving Zambia’s Development

HEA — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:54:44 +0000

The Higher Education Authority (HEA)has invited all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Zambia to submit information on research and innovation activities being undertaken at their institutions for publication in the Authority’s inaugural Digest on research and innovation in higher education.

The call is aimed at documenting and promoting how HEIs are leveraging transformative research, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and knowledge generation to respond to national development priorities and emerging societal needs.

In a communiqué to HEIs, HEA Director-General, Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, stated that the higher education subsector has continued to place greater emphasis on research and innovation as critical drivers of national development.

“HEA wishes to capture research and innovation initiatives from all categories of HEIs, including universities, university colleges and colleges, in order to showcase the contribution of the higher education subsector to Zambia’s social and economic transformation,” Professor Chinsembu stated.

While universities have been encouraged to strengthen the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research and Innovation, the Authority has emphasised that research and innovation are not limited to universities alone. Colleges and university colleges are also generating knowledge, developing practical solutions, and contributing to national progress.

Therefore, the Digest will provide a platform for all categories of HEIs to tell their research and innovation stories, from laboratories and workshops to communities, industries and learning spaces where ideas are being tested, refined and transformed into solutions.

The submissions will assist HEA to profile and promote the role of HEIs in advancing research and innovation in Zambia through HEA publications, digital platforms, stakeholder reports and other public communication channels.

Professor Chinsembu further stated that HEA looks forward to receiving submissions that demonstrate how higher education is contributing to national development through research, innovation and practical solutions.

Submissions should highlight, among other things:

The title of the research or innovation project;
The problem or challenge being addressed;
The objectives of the research or innovation;
The methodology or approach being used;
The key findings, outputs, prototypes, products or services developed;
The potential or actual impact of the research or innovation;
Partnerships or collaborations involved, if any; and,
High-quality images of the research or innovation being undertaken.

Each submission should not exceed two (2) pages, excluding images, and should be prepared using the following format:

Font type: Times New Roman;
Font size: 12;
Line spacing: 1.15;
Page size: A4;
Margins: Normal margins;
Word count: between 700 and 900 words.

HEIs are further requested to attach high-resolution photographs of the research or innovation project. The images should be clear, properly labelled, and where possible, show the project, researchers, equipment, prototypes, fieldwork, laboratory work, community engagement, or any other relevant activity connected to the research or innovation.

The submissions will assist HEA to profile and promote the role of HEIs in advancing research and innovation in Zambia, including through HEA publications, digital platforms, stakeholder reports, and other public communication channels.

HEIs are requested to submit their write-ups and accompanying images to corporateservices@hea.org.zm by Friday, 5^th June, 2026.

For clarification, contact Mr. Birbal Boniface Musoba, Corporate Communications Officer, on +260 975 002 649, or via email at corporateservices@hea.org.zm.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VasVJip7oQhXnhbaOB2I

Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

#NGS2025 #NationalGraduateSurvey

Follow the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@HEAZambia) and join the conversation using #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia.

213 Higher Education Institutions Make 2026 Official Gazette List

HEA — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:52:23 +0000

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has published the official 2026 list of registered private and recognised public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), confirming that Zambia now has 213 recognised and registered HEIs as of 31^st March, 2026.

The list has been published in Gazette Notice No. 664 of 2026, issued on Friday, 17^th April, 2026, in Lusaka, in accordance with the Higher Education Act, 2013, Part IV Section 48, which requires the Authority to publish, within the first quarter of every calendar year, a list of all HEIs registered or established under the Act.

Of the 213 HEIs, 49 are recognised public HEIs, while 164 are registered private HEIs.

The public HEIs comprise 10 public universities, 27 public colleges, 11 public institutions for specialised training of professionals in a specified field, and one (1) public technical university college, namely the Zambia University College of Technology (ZUCT).

The registered private HEIs comprise 50 private universities, 93 private colleges, four (4) private institutions for specialised training of professionals in a specified field, 1 private technical college, namely Holy Cross Technical College, and 16 private university colleges.

This Gazette is not just a list but it is the official public reference point for students, parents, guardians, employers and the general public to verify whether an institution is legally recognised or registered to offer higher education in Zambia.

HEA continues to warn the general public not to enrol at any private institution that is not registered by the Authority, as qualifications obtained from such institutions will not be recognised.

If an institution purporting to offer higher education does not appear on this list, members of the public are advised to contact HEA on +260 976 936 658 or email info@hea.org.zm.

The official gazetted list is available on the HEA website, https://hea.org.zm/downloads/gazette-notice-2/.

#HigherEducationZambia #HEAZambia

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Join the HEA WhatsApp Channel here:

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Read all HEA News here: https://hea.org.zm/hea-news/

Take the National Graduate Survey! https://hea.org.zm/nationalgraduatesurvey/

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HEA Gazettes 2026 University Classifications

HEA — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:48:38 +0000

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has published the official 2026 classification list of universities, identifying institutions approved to offer higher education up to different Zambia Qualifications Framework (ZQF) levels.

The classification list has been published in Gazette Notice No. 665 of 2026, issued on Friday, 17^th April, 2026, in Lusaka, in accordance with the Higher Education (General) Regulations, 2024, Section 23, which requires the Authority to publish the classification list of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the first quarter of the year.

The classification is critical because it defines the level at which an HEI may legally offer higher education. It protects students from enrolling in programmes offered outside an institution’s approved level and helps employers, parents and the public understand the scope of each institution’s approval.

Under the Regulations, HEIs are classified into four (4) tiers. Tier 1 institutions offer higher education up to doctoral degree level, Tier 2 institutions up to master’s degree level, Tier 3 institutions up to bachelor’s degree level, and Tier 4 institutions up to diploma level.

In the 2026 classification list, five (5) public universities are classified at ZQF Level 10, meaning they are approved to offer higher education up to doctoral degree level. These are Chalimbana University, the Copperbelt University, Kwame Nkrumah University, Mulungushi University, and the University of Zambia.

Among private universities, 12 institutions are classified at ZQF Level 10. These are Africa Research University, Cavendish University, DMI-St. Eugene University, Gideon Robert University, Information and Communication University, Rockview University, Rusangu University, Texila American University, Unicaf University Zambia, University of Lusaka, Zambian Open University, and ZCAS University.

The Gazette further shows that among private universities, 21 are classified at ZQF Level 9, nine (9) at ZQF Level 8, and eight at ZQF Level 7.

If an HEI is operating outside its approved classification, the public is advised to contact HEA on +260 976 936 658 or email info@hea.org.zm.

The official gazetted list is available on the HEA website, https://hea.org.zm/downloads/gazette-notice-2/.

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