University Business Education in Southern Africa: A Zambian Focus

Abstract

There is widespread concern with the quality o f university business education in Southern Africa. Universities are confronted with lowering academic stan­ dards, staff attrition, and dwindling financial resources. In this paper, , these issues are addressed in the context o f university education in Zambia. The central issues are analysed and recommendations are made for improvements. Introduction Concern about the quality of higher education in Southern Africa, is regularly expressed by both citizens and international donors. Behind the concerns expressed are issues about how a country can compete economically in die global marketplace. Because everyone is aware that today, countries compete on their competencies. Thus, a well-educated population is the best guarantee for future economic development. But is the concern with quality overplayed and exaggerated? This paper attempts to answer this question drawing on the literature and the author’s experience as a lecturer and examiner in the region with special reference to Business Education. It begins by pointing to the changing job scene and the new rules of competition. The paper then goes on to review the funding of education both in Zambia and selected countries in Southern Africa. This is followed by some recommendations on improving higher education in Southern Africa. While this paper focuses on Southern Africa, the Zambian perspective is the one adopted in making comparisons. The Changing Job Scene Over the past decade a number of writers have been sounding warnings on the changing global economic environment. We are witnessing a change in the structure of business and trade whereby the global imperatives have a signifi­ cant influence. Thus, firms in Africa are now subject to much more competition and less protection for home industries. This has resulted in a significant 62