NOEL IYOMBWA writes
@SunZambian
ONE of the world’s leading research entities, the Spanish National Research Council, has ranked UNZA as the best university in Zambia for 2019.
And UNZA Vice Chancellor, Professor Luke Mumba, said the best ranking status reflected the institution’s commitment to its role as a premier university of choice in Zambia.
In a statement issued by UNZA spokesperson Brenda Bukowa data published by Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, UNZA had consistently held the number one position since 2015 when the ranking website launched its Africa research component.
She said Webometrics Ranking of World Universities was an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Spanish National Research Council –the largest public research body in Spain.
Ms Bukowa said that the aim of the ranking was to promote academic web presence reflective of university activities, supporting open access initiatives for increasing significant transfer of scientific and cultural knowledge and promote excellence of universities worldwide.
“The research council follows an independent, objective, free, and open scientific exercise carried out twice a year. It provides reliable, multi-dimensional, updated and useful information about the performance of universities from all over the world based on their impact and web presence which are reflective of the universities,” she said
And, Prof. Mumba, said UNZA’s outstanding track record in teaching, learning, research, consultancy and community engagement had demonstrated to the nation and the world at large, the values of its diverse range of educational programmes in the higher education sector.
He thanked members of staff that contributed to academic excellence.
He said UNZA’s continued dominance in the provision of higher education could never be possible without the effort of men and women that tirelessly dedicate their lives to finding solutions to societal problems through teaching and research.
UNZA was the first university in Zambia established by the University of Zambia Act Number 66 of 1965 and consequently opened in 1966.
The University boasts of over 300 undergraduate academic programme offerings in its 13 schools.
UNZA also has industry tailored post graduate programmes aimed at instilling in scholars a critical and engaged mind essential for problem solving skills.
The University further has a cadre of qualified and experienced Lecturers and Researchers that produce and churn out cutting edge research that has over the decades contributed to making Zambia, Africa and the world a better place.
