The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) is recommending the establishment of institutional quality assurance standards, the development of curricula as well as the preparation and amendment of university charters and statutes to enhance Heritage based Education 5.0.
In his address to members of the Harare Institute of Technology Senate entitled "Roles and Functions of The Zimbabwe Council Of Higher Education” on Friday 21 February 2020, the ZIMCHE Chief Executive Officer Professor Prof Kuzvinetsa P. Dzvimbo said the raison d’etre of ZIMCHE is to promote and coordinate education provided by institutions of higher education and to act as a regulator in the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examinations, academic qualifications and research in these institutions.
"The functions of ZIMCHE are to design and recommend an institutional quality assurance system for higher education. A system whereby the courses, programmes and degrees offered by institutions are evaluated on a regular and objective basis. The other functions include the promotion of equity in access to higher education through the provision of student assistance programme, to promote international co-operation and facilitate exchanges in higher education, to perform any other function that the Minister may deem necessary," said Prof Dzvimbo.
ZIMCHE also recommends to the Minister institutional quality assurance standards for the standards of libraries and is encouraging the shift to electronic resources It also recommends and supervises the safety standards of laboratories and workshops including the minimum standards of student housing, students’ transfer between programmes and institutions of higher education. The Higher education regulatory body also also values the critical importance of Minimum Body of Knowledge (MBKS) and the Zimbabwe National Qualification Framework (ZNQF).
Prof Dzvimbo also added that ZIMCHE also advises the ministry on the shape and size of the higher education system, the budgeting and funding arrangements for higher education for public institutions and assists institutions of higher education in the training of high calibre staff, which also include the review of post graduate training in Zimbabwe.
"Currently, ZIMCHE is developing standards for audits, self evaluation and external evaluation of certificates, undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees offered by universities. We have finalised the development of Minimum Body of Knowledge (MBKS) to ensure that 80% of the content of all our certificate, diploma and degree programs are the same across the sector as far as depth and breadth is concerned. Challenge. ZIMCHE will ensure that, the programmes in all universities should address the skills deficit articulated in the 2018 National Critical Skills Audit. Whilst Emphasis is on a peer review system, the MBKs will enhance transfer/portability of credits across the system,” said the ZIMCHE CEO.
ZIMCHE also supports the Education 5.0 clarion call from the Ministry with more funding on teaching, learning and student support, rresearch, innovation, Commercialisation and the Fourth Industrial revolution (Additive manufacturing).
