Professor Chinsembu stated that university research must provide empirical answers to the many questions surrounding the current shortage of electricity in Zambia.

“The declining supply of electricity presents a yawning opportunity for higher education to put its best foot forward,” Professor Chinsembu said, adding, “The electricity shortage has created a crisis in the quality of higher education. We urge universities to address the impacts of electricity supply shortages on the quality of higher education.”

The Director-General further stated that universities could convert their car parks into solar farms and convert garbage into biogas for cooking.

“Universities should become the panacea to the many economic challenges that we face as a sub-region,” he said, continuing, “Quality assurance must define the new purpose of higher education in Southern Africa which should unravel the new mission of our quality assurance systems in order to chart a new path for higher education in Southern Africa.”

Professor Chinsembu added that the future of higher education in Southern Africa should understand the challenges of technological deprivation and address the facets of digital poverty.

“Universities should embrace digital transformation, adapt e-learning platforms to rural communities, and build virtual campuses that promote access to quality higher education in technologically-starved communities that live on the fringes of ICT infrastructure and services,” Professor Chinsembu said.

The Director-General made this call when he gave remarks during the opening ceremony of the 6^th Southern African Quality Assurance Network (SAQAN) Conference which was held at Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa, Livingstone.

The 6^th SAQAN Conference was held from 25^th to 27^th September, 2024, with the theme of “Strengthening and Harmonising Quality Assurance in the SADC Region and Beyond through Sharing Experiences and Good Practices.”

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