Dr. Mushumba Explains What the Accreditation Window Really Means

The Director – Quality Assurance at the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Dr. Martin Mushumba, has clarified that the Accreditation Window is simply the period during which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are required to submit learning programmes for evaluation, saying the process is far less complicated than it sounds.

Dr. Mushumba made the clarification when he featured on the ZNBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show hosted by Ms. Mable Knight, the show’s producer, and Mr. Bonface Chansa Mukopa, her visually impaired co-host, where he discussed the ongoing Accreditation Window from 1^st April to 31^st May, 2026.

He said the window is essentially an open call for institutions to submit their learning programmes so that the Authority can evaluate whether what is being taught, who is teaching it, and how it will be delivered all meet the expected standards.

“What we are simply saying is we’ve actually opened a call for those that are actually expected to submit learning programmes for their evaluation,” Dr. Mushumba explained.

He went on to demystify the concept further by stating, “Learning programmes are simply the components that you submit for review to ensure that what you teach in your setup, in your institution as a college, in your institution as a university, simply meets the standard.”

According to Dr. Mushumba, accreditation itself is nothing more than an evaluation of a learning programme to determine whether it meets minimum standards for offer at a given level, whether diploma, bachelor’s or otherwise.

In doing so, HEA looks at the curriculum, the suitability of teaching staff, facilities, implementation plans and the overall readiness of the institution to run the programme properly.

The interview builds on the article issued by the Authority announcing the opening of the accreditation window and forms part of the increased media attention HEA has received following the Summer School Media Training Workshop.

The public response to the programme was overwhelming, with more calls coming in than could be handled within the allocated time. As a result, HEA has been invited back to the show this week on Thursday, 16^th April, 2026, at 07:30hrs, to take more calls and respond to additional public concerns.

HEA once again urges institutions to use the current window period to submit all unaccredited programmes before 31^st May, 2026. No submissions will be accepted once the window closes. For more information, institutions may contact accreditation@hea.org.zm or visit www.hea.org.zm.

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