By 
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has called for a fundamental shift in the role of higher education institutions (HEIs), warning that universities must not become repositories of unused knowledge but centres of innovation.
Professor Kazhila Chinsembu, HEA Director-General, noted that while knowledge generation remains a core function of higher education, its true value lies in influencing society, driving innovation, and contributing meaningfully to national development.
Chinsembu made the remarks during a virtual meeting with principal officers from over 65 HEIs across the country, including Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, Bursars, Librarians, and Deans of Students, as defined under the Higher Education Act, 2013.
Journalists trained by HEA during the Summer School Media Training Workshop also attended, reflecting the Authority’s expanding engagement with the media on higher education issues.
Read More: Zambia’s Higher Education Authority plans tougher rules to curb rise of fake professors
The Director-General challenged institutions to move beyond passive knowledge accumulation and reposition themselves as active drivers of change, where research, teaching, and innovation are translated into real solutions for the country.
“Sadly, many of our universities are absent from where we need them most, the frontlines of discovery and thought leadership,” he said.
Chinsembu emphasised that higher education must serve a higher purpose—one that extends beyond classrooms into communities, industries, and national development priorities.
He delivered a striking caution on the sector’s trajectory, urging institutions to reclaim their place at the forefront of national progress.
“As the Higher Education Authority, our mandate is to ensure that universities and colleges do not become knowledge graveyards, places where scholarship and erudition accumulate without being applied, shared or translated into societal value and impact,” Chinsembu said.
He further urged universities to not only teach but lead, stressing that knowledge that is not applied does not transform, and higher education that does not transform risks losing its purpose.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments