HEA Opens Winter School to Put Quality Assurance at the Centre of AI and Digital Transformation
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has opened its 2026 Winter School Capacity Building Workshop for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with a clear message that quality assurance must now respond to artificial intelligence, digital transformation and the changing demands of society.
The three (3)-day workshop, being held from 15th to 17th July, 2026, at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone, is running under the theme, “Strengthening higher education curriculum quality through quality assurance in the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.”
Officially opening the workshop, HEA Director-General, Professor Kazhila C. Chinsembu, said higher education is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, digital technology, online and blended learning, changing labour market demands, internationalisation and increasing expectations from students and employers.
“These developments present both opportunities and challenges,” Professor Chinsembu said. “They also remind us that quality assurance is no longer simply a regulatory requirement for purposes of compliance. It is a strategic tool for institutional excellence, accountability, innovation and sustainability.”
The Winter School has brought together higher education leaders, quality assurance officers, academics, institutional representatives and experts to reflect on how HEIs can strengthen curriculum quality, internal quality assurance systems, AI readiness, governance, academic integrity and data-driven quality assurance.
The programme included opening remarks by Professor Chinsembu, an overview of workshop objectives by Dr. Martin Mushumba, Director – Quality Assurance, and keynote and technical presentations on AI, digital transformation, curriculum quality, accreditation and institutional systems.
Professor Chinsembu said the Authority remained committed to ensuring that HEIs provide quality education that meets national and international standards, while protecting students, upholding public confidence and supporting institutions in continuous improvement.
The Director-General further reminded participants that quality assurance is not the responsibility of regulators alone, but a shared responsibility involving governing councils, management teams, academic staff, students, professional bodies, employers and government.
“Building a culture of quality requires institutions to move beyond compliance and embrace continuous improvement in every aspect of their operations,” Professor Chinsembu said.
The Winter School is expected to produce stronger understanding of quality assurance in the era of AI and support institutions to align curriculum design, accreditation readiness, internal systems and digital transformation with the needs of Zambia’s higher education subsector.
Download DG’s Speech: https://hea.org.zm/download/opening-remarks-by-hea-director-general-at-winter-school-2026/
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Setting the Tone: The high table listens as the Winter School opens under the theme of strengthening curriculum quality through quality assurance in the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
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