By Cecilia Chiluba 
Ministry of Education says it has finalized the Financing Strategy for Public Universities.
Ministry’s Director for University Development, Amos Mumba explained that the financing strategy is designed to provide guidelines on how public universities can be sustainably funded.
And Mr. Mumba revealed that the Ministry has also developed a National Research and Innovation Strategy to guide organized research conducted by higher learning institutions.
He noted that higher learning institutions play a crucial role in society through their research.
Speaking on EduTalkZone, a Ministry of Education information dissemination platform, Mr. Mumba explained that the National Research and Innovation Strategy aims to coordinate all research undertaken by universities across the country.
“Higher learning institutions have a vital responsibility to address and provide solutions to societal challenges.”
“Universities are reservoirs of knowledge. In 2024, we experienced a drought in the country, and what we wanted to see was universities taking the lead by offering solutions through their cutting-edge research to respond to the challenges the country was facing,” Mr. Mumba said.
He added that the Ministry hopes the National Research and Innovation Strategy will enable the creation of a national research fund, allowing researchers with innovative ideas to access financial support and carry out their research.