During a key session at the conference, Unicaf Kenya Country Manager, Ms Winnie Rachael, was invited to participate as a panelist, where she contributed valuable perspectives from her own leadership experience, highlighting the realities and responsibilities of leadership roles, the importance of resilience, adaptability, and effective decision-making, as well as the value of continuous learning and capacity building.

The conference also provided an excellent platform for networking with key stakeholders, facilitating the development of meaningful and strategic partnerships with both organisations and senior women leaders alike. Through these engagements, Unicaf was able to further highlight its commitment to advancing women’s professional development by strengthening leadership capabilities, enhancing professional qualifications, and promoting greater access to higher education opportunities.

Empowering women in their pursuit of greater leadership development and professional growth remains one of Unicaf’s most steadfast commitments, reaffirmed not only through its participation in this conference, but also through its provision of generous scholarship opportunities and wide range of affordable, accessible, and flexible academic programmes, enabling students to earn internationally recognised degrees, in collaboration with our partner universities in the UK and Africa, through our state-of-the-art virtual learning environment.

Unicaf looks forward to participating in similar events in the future and continuing to advance our mission of supporting women in reaching their full professional and leadership potential.

The leadership programme brought together emerging leaders for a day of learning, mentorship and inspiration, reinforcing both organisations’ shared commitment to developing future-ready leaders capable of driving positive change within their communities and organisations.

The event commenced with a warm welcome from Master of Ceremonies Ms Valerie Kalinso, who introduced participants to ̽»¨ÉçÇø and its wide range of academic . Welcoming remarks were then delivered by Dr Clement Chela, Dean of the School of Health and Applied Sciences, who highlighted the importance of continuous learning and leadership development in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Participants were also given a guided campus tour, led by offering them the opportunity to experience ̽»¨ÉçÇø’s modern learning facilities and student-centred environment.

The programme was moderated by Mr Lighton Chitambo, StandOut Leadership Programme Coordinator at YouEngage Foundation, who facilitated the day’s sessions and discussions.

The event featured insightful presentations from distinguished speakers, including keynote speaker Mr Richard Kajokoto, HR Director at PepsiCo – Varun Beverages, who shared valuable perspectives on authentic leadership, professional growth and the importance of lifelong learning. Participants also benefited from an engaging presentation by Mr Jackson Changala, Executive Director of YouEngage Foundation, who encouraged young leaders to embrace purpose-driven leadership and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

The StandOut Leadership Programme was designed to strengthen leadership capacity, inspire both personal and professional growth, and equip participants with practical leadership skills that can be applied in their careers, organisations and communities.

Speaking on the success of the programme, representatives from both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to empowering young leaders through collaborative initiatives that promote education, leadership development and community engagement.

Through strategic collaborations such as this, ̽»¨ÉçÇø remains dedicated to providing transformative educational experiences that empower individuals to achieve their academic, professional and leadership aspirations while making a lasting impact on society.

During the signing ceremony, Unicaf Kenya Country Manager, Ms Winnie Rachael, provided participants with an overview of Unicaf, highlighting how this strategic partnership provides greater access to its uniquely affordable, accessible, and flexible academic programmes and generous scholarship opportunities, in addition to emphasising the importance of supporting professionals in the advancement of their academic and career goals.

Signed by Ms Rachael and PMI President, Ms Maureen Mbithe, the MoU and subsequent partnership were warmly welcomed by the PMI Secretariat, recognising and expressing the value of this opportunity as a strong foundation for future engagement between the two organisations on various awareness sessions, activities, webinars, and other follow-up learning initiatives designed to encourage PMI members to take full advantage of the opportunities available through this partnership.

Unicaf looks forward to delivering on these commitments, providing PMI members and their families with the opportunity to earn internationally recognised degrees in collaboration with our university partners in the UK and Africa, supported by our state-of-the-art virtual learning environment.

Under the theme ‘Implementation of Quality Assurance Systems in Higher Education’, this workshop brought together quality assurance leaders, vice- and deputy vice-chancellors, and faculty from 27 higher education institutions across Zambia in an effort to strengthen evidence-based quality systems and equip higher education leaders with the necessary tools to promote and ensure ethical quality assurance practices, supporting future graduate successes and ultimately contributing to and driving national development as a result.

As co-leader of the programme in Zambia, Professor Chungu delivered several keynote sessions on roles in quality assurance, tracer study design, and reporting strategies, in addition to demonstrating peer counseling methodologies that facilitate the continuous improvement of all participating higher education institutions in the country.

The opportunity to meaningfully engage with other key Zambian higher education leaders, institutions, organisations, and stakeholders, including HEA Director-General, Professor Kazhila Chinsembu, DAAD representatives, and other vice- and deputy vice-chancellors, quality assurance directors, and faculty proved extremely valuable. These engagements helped to strengthen existing national quality assurance processes and strategies while facilitating the development of new, innovative frameworks and approaches to quality assurance that enhance the future success of graduates and contribute to greater national development.

̽»¨ÉçÇø is continuously working to enhance the quality of its , not only by improving their affordability, accessibility, and flexibility across the board, but also by implementing more effective and efficient quality assurance methodologies, with these efforts ensuring that all aspects of the ̽»¨ÉçÇø experience meet the highest quality standards, further supporting the of our institution and its degrees.

Consisting of guided facility tours, overviews of the hub’s various units, including innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as interactive discussions and activities, the visit proved highly informative for students, as demonstrated by their high level of interest and engagement throughout the programme. Their participation reflected not only a strong enthusiasm for learning beyond the classroom, but also a growing awareness of career pathways within technology-focused fields, such as artificial intelligence and software engineering, in addition to opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students also gained a greater understanding of the importance of collaboration in developing impactful solutions to societal challenges, highlighting the need for innovative and entrepreneurial thinking to address these effectively.

A key highlight of the visit was an interactive activity in which students, working collaboratively in groups, were tasked with analysing a case study regarding a digital health platform in order to identify the primary challenges its users faced, evaluate their underlying causes, and develop and propose practical intervention strategies and methods, all while considering how their effectiveness and impact could be measured. This exercise encouraged students to apply structured problem-solving techniques and critical thinking skills to real-world challenges, enabling them to gain a deeper appreciation of the role of human-centred design in developing innovative solutions. The collaborative nature of the task also helped strengthen students’ teamwork, communication, and analytical skills.

At ̽»¨ÉçÇø, we are dedicated to providing students with greater experiential learning opportunities. Through this visit, our students gained a deeper, more holistic understanding of the process of transforming innovative ideas into real-world, sustainable solutions within the Zambian context, while simultaneously fostering creativity and collaboration. ̽»¨ÉçÇø remains committed to continuing to provide students with such opportunities in the future, successfully bridging the gap between academic instruction and entrepreneurial thinking.

Dr Daniel Mpolomoka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr Chrine Hapompwe, Director of Quality Assurance at ̽»¨ÉçÇø, participated in the workshop, gaining an increased awareness and greater understanding of the strategic importance and transformative role of AI and digital technologies in the modern higher education landscape through expert presentations, practical demonstrations, and interactive discussions.

With the theme of ‘Strategic Leadership for Digital Transformation, Research and Innovation in the Generative AI Era’, this workshop explored the operational benefits of effectively integrating AI and other digital technologies into existing workflows and processes within higher education institutions, while also facilitating new data-driven approaches to academia and administration, improving institutional efficiency, strengthening of the quality of teaching and learning, enhancing research productivity, as well as improving overall student experiences and increasing global competitiveness more broadly.

Furthermore, the workshop emphasised that ethical governance, institutional readiness, continuous staff development and training, as well as robust and secure data management systems are critical elements in ensuring that higher education institutions are able to meet these targets and achieve their strategic objectives.

̽»¨ÉçÇø is dedicated to continuously elevating its standing, both nationally and globally, through its responsible and ethical integration of AI and other digital technologies across its academic and administrative operations, further refining its wide range of uniquely affordable, accessible, and flexible .

Committed to delivering quality higher education throughout the region, ̽»¨ÉçÇø supports its students not only through the provision of generous and that promote academic and professional development and enhance career prospects, but also through participating in insightful and informative initiatives such as the HEA’s Winter School Workshop, in order to facilitate more engaging, interactive, and rewarding student experiences in the digital era.

Overall, this workshop proved immensely valuable, highlighting that the future success of Zambian higher education institutions will depend on their ability to strike a delicate, deliberate balance between technological advancements, academic integrity, human-centred leadership, and sustainable institutional development, with strategic visions grounded in responsible innovation becoming the differentiating factor in successfully navigating the higher education landscape in the age of AI and digital technologies.

As a youth-led leadership and civic engagement initiative, Emerge Zambia is dedicated to supporting the personal, academic, and professional development of Zambian youth across the country through learning initiatives that equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve their future career aspirations, academic goals, and personal ambitions, a commitment shared by ̽»¨ÉçÇø.

At the signing ceremony, key leadership and representative figures from both organisations were present, delivering remarks emphasising the objectives of this new partnership, including the provision of quality education, skills development, and youth and student empowerment. Representatives from Emerge Zambia included the organisation’s Director, Mr Bernard Munyoka, and Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, Ms Humairaa Khan and Mr Mthunzi Lupaka. On behalf of ̽»¨ÉçÇø, Dr Daniel Mpolomoka and Dr Attrige Mwelwa, Deputy Vice-Chancellors for Academics and Research respectively, and Dean of Students Ms Abigail Chalwe, also participated in the ceremony, alongside other valued members of the University’s Student Affairs and Marketing departments.

̽»¨ÉçÇø remains dedicated to supporting young people in the achievement of their academic and professional goals, not only through a wide range of uniquely affordable and accessible and , but also through generous , comprehensive student support, and partnerships with forward-thinking organisations such as Emerge Zambia.

We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Emerge Zambia in the future as we continue to empower young people across Zambia in their pursuit of academic excellence, career fulfilment and personal growth.

Signed on 27 July 2026 at the ̽»¨ÉçÇø campus in Lusaka, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering individuals through education, leadership development, and lifelong learning.

As part of the agreement, members of the YouEngage Foundation and their immediate families will benefit from a generous towards eligible Bachelor’s and Master’s degree , enabling them to pursue qualifications while balancing their personal and professional commitments.

The collaboration will also create opportunities for specialised training workshops, webinars, and educational initiatives designed to support the personal and professional growth of YouEngage members.

The is a youth-focused organisation committed to developing Africa’s next generation of visionary leaders by creating environments that empower current and future generations to achieve sustained peace, stability, and security. Through initiatives that promote leadership, education, and community engagement, the Foundation continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people across the continent.

The partnership also recognises the importance of continuous learning in enhancing leadership capacity, workforce development, and employee productivity. Both organisations have expressed their commitment to developing flexible and accessible learning opportunities that meet the evolving needs of working professionals and aspiring leaders.

The successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding marks an important milestone for both organisations and lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration that will empower individuals, strengthen communities, and create lasting educational impact across Zambia and beyond.

The major highlight of the event was the Hackathon Competition, which ran for three days as part of the Youth Summit. Working in teams, participants were tasked with developing innovative solutions focused on addressing real-world challenges in the energy and regulatory sectors.

By the end of the competition, three groups were chosen as top winners based on the innovation and impact of their proposed solutions, with Unicaf sponsoring the top prize, which awarded KSh 100,000 to the winning team. This award was presented to the winners by Unicaf Kenya’s Country Manager Ms Winnie Rachael, alongside key EPRA leadership.

During the award presentation, Ms Rachael highlighted Unicaf’s mission of improving young people’s access to quality higher education through a wide range of affordable and flexible academic programmes, as well as generous scholarship opportunities, where students can obtain internationally recognised degrees via interactive and engaging learning methods facilitated by its state-of-the-art virtual learning environment in collaboration with Unicaf’s renowned university partners in the UK and Africa.

Through its participation in the 2026 EPRA Conference and its sponsorship of the Hackathon Competition winners, Unicaf continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing young people with greater access to higher education opportunities and learning initiatives to drive change both on a local and global scale through the fostering of innovative and sustainable solutions to real-world challenges.