ZIMCHE to Inspect Zambia Universities Amid Surge in Zimbabwean Students
The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) is preparing to dispatch a delegation to Zambia to evaluate the quality of medical degree programmes being pursued by thousands of Zimbabwean students in the neighbouring country.
The move comes as authorities seek to safeguard the credibility and global recognition of qualifications obtained outside Zimbabwe.
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Concern Over Growing Numbers Abroad
According to The Herald, ZIMCHE chief executive officer, Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, said more than 5 000 Zimbabwean students are currently studying medicine at a university in Zambia, prompting the need for closer scrutiny.
“There is a university in Zambia where about 5 000 Zimbabweans are studying medicine, so we want to make sure that when they come back, they will be accepted by the medical profession,” he said.
He added that the planned visit is part of broader efforts to ensure students studying abroad earn qualifications that meet both regional and international standards.
Regional Quality Checks Intensified
Beyond Zambia, ZIMCHE is expanding its oversight to other countries, with teams expected to assess universities in Uganda, Kenya and Namibia.
Prof Dzvimbo said these visits are aimed at strengthening academic standards across the region and ensuring alignment between Zimbabwean programmes and those offered internationally.
“I will be in Uganda next week, some colleagues will be in Kenya, and others in Namibia. We are looking at degree programmes and comparing them with those in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Rigorous Degree Approval Process
The council emphasised that Zimbabwe’s higher education system follows strict quality assurance procedures before any degree programme is approved.
Prof Dzvimbo explained that institutions must demonstrate how their programmes compare with those offered locally, regionally and globally.
“When a head of department or a dean comes to us and says they want to introduce a degree, the first question we ask is: who is your comparator?” he said.
Programme evaluations are conducted by teams made up of associate and full professors from Zimbabwe and abroad, including academics based in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
Students Seek Global Recognition Assurance
During the engagement at Bindura University of Science Education, students raised concerns about whether locally obtained degrees are internationally recognised.
In response, Prof Dzvimbo assured them that continuous reviews are carried out to keep programmes relevant and competitive.
“We want to make sure that what you study prepares you for industry, commerce and government anywhere in the world,” he said.
He described Zimbabwe’s quality assurance system as “sacrosanct”, noting that it is designed to protect the integrity and global standing of the country’s qualifications.
Focus on Industry-Relevant Skills
ZIMCHE’s Higher Education Quality Assurance Board, which includes representatives from academia, Government and industry, plays a key role in aligning degree programmes with labour market needs.
Prof Dzvimbo said the council continuously engages institutions to improve programmes where gaps are identified, ensuring graduates remain competitive on the global stage.
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