Zimbabwe to audit Zambian medical schools

Zimbabwe's higher education authorities are set to assess universities in Zambia following a surge in the number of Zimbabwean students studying medicine in the neighbouring country.

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) says more than 5 000 Zimbabweans are currently enrolled in medical programmes in Zambia, prompting concerns over the quality and recognition of qualifications obtained abroad.

ZIMCHE chief executive officer Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo revealed the planned visit during an engagement with students at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) on Friday.

"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," said Prof Dzvimbo.

He said the assessment is part of a broader regional exercise that will also see ZIMCHE teams visiting universities in Uganda, Kenya and Namibia to strengthen academic standards and harmonisation.

According to Prof Dzvimbo, Zimbabwe maintains a rigorous quality assurance system designed to ensure that both local and foreign qualifications meet regional and international benchmarks.

"When universities want to introduce a degree programme, we ask them who they have benchmarked against locally, regionally and globally," he said.

He explained that programme evaluations involve teams of associate professors and full professors drawn from Zimbabwe and abroad, including Zimbabwean academics working in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The process of approving a degree programme is rigorous and designed to ensure that qualifications offered by our institutions compare favourably with those from top universities around the world," he said.

During the engagement, students raised concerns about the global recognition of Zimbabwean degrees and whether local institutions are doing enough to produce competitive graduates.

In response, Prof Dzvimbo assured them that ZIMCHE continuously reviews programmes to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with industry needs.

"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 higher education quality assurance system as "sacrosanct," emphasising that every proposed degree programme undergoes extensive scrutiny before approval.

ZIMCHE's Higher Education Quality Assurance Board - which includes representatives from academia, industry and government - plays a key role in ensuring graduates are equipped for the labour market.

Prof Dzvimbo added that the council regularly compares Zimbabwean degree programmes with those offered in other regions to maintain competitiveness.

"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.

"Where we think our degrees do not compare favourably, we respectfully engage institutions to improve them."

The planned visit to Zambia is expected to provide further clarity on the standards of medical training being offered, amid growing reliance by Zimbabwean students on foreign universities.