Graduation at Zambian Open University

One year ago on 7 September 2019 I was privileged to attend the graduation of my wife Judith Konayuma at the Zambian Open University where she was graduated with a Masters in International Trade. I attended this graduation with our daughter Shingisai and nephew Goliath. It was a joyous occasion and a well organised event. The Zambian Open University (ZAOU) was established in 2002 as a private open university in order to meet the growing demand of higher education in the country. The vision of the university is to be an internationally recognized Open University providing quality education through distance learning.

Judith Konayuma the graduate

The Vice Chancellor during the graduation was Professor Richard Siacwena, who is a distinguished scholar and pioneer in open, distance and flexible learning. I have worked with him on a number of distance learning programmes the most dear one being the development of the TEVET Open, Distance and Flexible Learning (ODFL) Strategy. The Deputy Vice Chancellor is Professor Anne Sikwibele, another renown scholar in open, distance and flexible learning.

During the graduation a total of 1000 students graduated with the majority being Bachelor's degree graduates. This is an impressive number and is a testimony of how the vision of the founders of the university is being met as it is the largest provider of distance education for universities in the country. The university has offered an opportunity to many learners (school leavers and employees) to attain qualifications at whatever time and wherever they come from.

Also graduating during this graduation was Sankananji Mweene (in photo below) who is married to my nephew Haggai Mweene. It was great to see her graduate.

Left to Right: Shingisai, Sankananji, Judith & Gabriel

It was such a privilege to share with Judith the joy of her graduating in her Masters programme. Her hard work paid off. We give thanks to God the giver and source of all knowledge.

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