Speaking during his address of HEIs at the End of 2023 Virtual Symposium held by HEA, the Acting Director-General, Dr. Martin Mushumba stated that this measure was necessitated in order to compound on quality assurance in the higher education subsector.

“This will allow us to prioritise the welfare of learners by ensuring that when they graduate their certificates are not questioned,” Dr. Mushumba stated.

In ensuring that students lived in habitable environments, Dr. Mushumba also called on HEIs to prioritise the welfare of students by addressing concerns that arise in safeguarding students.

“Address the accommodation crises being faced by students who are being subjected to inhumane conditions in the boarding houses dotted around shanty compounds,” he said, adding, “students need to feel and be safe when studying.”

He added that the HEIs should further prioritise the accommodation for international students as this would raise Zambia into being a study hub of the region.

“We have the potential to become a leading hub in education in Southern Africa as evidenced by the desire for students to come and study in Zambia due to the strength on our education system,” Dr. Mushumba said, continuing, “for this to be achieved HEIs need to ensure that international students coming to study in Zambia have safe and secure accommodation near the campuses at which they study.”

Furthermore, the Acting Director-General called on HEIs to invest in infrastructure development.

“The standard of infrastructure is worrying considering that some students come from better secondary schools than the universities and colleges they end up joining,” he said.

Dr. Mushumba further stated that in 2024, HEA would be employing new strategies to strengthen quality assurance and improve information flow in order to eliminate information asymmetry in the sector.

“HEA instead to restructure in order to employ more staff that will improve service delivery and increase regional presence,” he added.

Dr. Mushumba stated that HEA would devote more time on training HEIs and their quality assurance units. Training for HEIs was announced for the April 2024 for colleges and June 2024 for universities and university colleges.

The HEIs that attended the virtual symposium were African Christian University, Ambassador International University, Berea Theological University College, Chengelo Nursing College, Chreso University, DAPP Mkushi College of Education, Eden University, George Benson Christian University College, Gideon Robert University, Glory Academy College, Harvest University, Hope College of Education, Information and Communications University, Kwame Nkrumah University, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM), Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka Goldsmiths University College, Mukuba University, Mulungushi University, Northrise University, Plains of Mamre International College, Rusangu University, South Valley University, St. Luke’s College of Nursing, St. Bonaventure University, St. Dominic’s Major Seminary, Sunningdale University, Supershine University, UNICOHS University College, University of Barotseland, University of Kabwe, University of Lusaka, University of Zambia (UNZA), Victoria Falls University of Technology, Woodlands University College, Zambia Catholic University, Zambian College of Open Learning, and Zera International College of Health Sciences.