Excellence in Higher Education

Establishing a National Higher Education Accreditation Framework: Challenges and Opportunities in Zambia

Stephen Simukanga — 2019-01-17

This paper addresses the context in which a national accreditation framework is being established in Zambia. It also outlines the role the Higher Education Authority plays in coordinating this national effort. This paper is informed by two primary data sources. The first is a review of current literature, policy documentation, and other publication outlets online. A second source examines optimal accreditation agency examples in-depth. Challenges and opportunities are discussed within the Zambian context, including recommendations on how to help overcome each challenge and capitalize opportunities.

Implications of Policy and Legal Frameworks on Higher Education in Zambia

Eustarckio Kazonga — 2019-01-17

Policy and legal frameworks are enablers for the delivery of appropriate higher education (HE) in a country. Zambia is currently implementing reforms in the HE sub-sector within the context of the policy and legal frameworks. These frameworks have implications on the provision of HE. The objectives of the paper are to: identify the policy and legal frameworks for the HE sub-sector; and determine the implications of these frameworks on HE. A document analysis method was used for the study in order to determine the relevant policy and legal frameworks on HE. In particular, the analysis used qualitative data purposively collected from the following documents: (1) Educating Our Future: National Policy on Education of 1996; (2) Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Policy of 1996; (3) Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013 and Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 13 of 2011; (5) Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act No. 31 of 2016; (6) Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET) Act No. 13 of 1998 as amended by the TEVET Act No. 11 of 2005; and (7) selected Government Gazette notices. The study findings are that the higher education policy and legal frameworks implications are liberalization, quality assurance, appropriate responses to the national needs, flexibility in training programs, financing, partnerships, accountability, and relevance of training programs offered. The paper concludes that there are multiple policy and legal frameworks implications on HE in Zambia but key among these are registration and accreditation of learning programs, and development of quality assurance systems to address the multitude of the twenty-first century challenges and demands of excellence in HE.

Framing Theoretical/Conceptual Frameworks and Research Processes in African Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Everyday Experiences

Felix Banda — 2019-01-17

This article shows how indigenous knowledge systems and everyday experiences can be used to scaffold theoretical and analytical frameworks as well as to teach aspects of research processes and procedures in a non-intimidating way. We use everyday African experiences and proverbs to show that production of new knowledge does not have to be in English and associated exogenous culture; rather it will be more expedient and have lifelong impact on students if expressed in familiar language practices and knowledge systems. Eurocentric-based epistemologies and knowledge systems will only have profound meaning in Africa if framed in and expressed through local indigenous knowledge systems. We conclude that there is need for research protocols and theoretical/analytical frameworks to be filtered through African socio-cultural contexts and knowledge systems for comprehensive and culturally-relevant meaning making. This would dispel the current obsession with ritualized research, the mysticism associated with Eurocentric research, and perceptions that only formally-educated people are eligible to do research.

Social Justice and Equity in the UK Education System

Yung-Ming Shu — 2019-01-17

This article is a review of educational justice in the United Kingdom. Historical roots are investigated. The main existing problems are: (1) the dual system, (2) the equality of university admissions, and (3) remedial education opportunities for disadvantaged pupils. There are recommendations from parliament and nongovernmental organizations, which are considered in this article. A summary of their suggestions include (1) reduce economic inequality, (2) eliminate the distinction between independent and state-funded schools, (3) promote adequate market mechanisms, and (4) offer more remedial education.

Social Justice and Equity in the Japanese Education System

Yu-Fei Liu — 2019-01-17

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Japanese educational institutions realize social justice and enhance Japanese students’ capacity for individual self-development in the education system, particularly in upper secondary education. This study involved historical investigation based on analyzing documents, field studies, and in-depth interviews. However, due to the particular social and cultural context of Japan, the preliminary analysis conducted in this study indicated that, despite equal opportunity in education often being emphasized and discussed, social justice is rarely involved in educational policy and research. We conducted in-depth interviews with Japanese scholars to confirm and clarify this issue. Therefore, in this paper, concepts related to social justice (including factors such as educational equity, equality, and fairness) in education are explored first in the Japanese social and cultural context. Second, this paper concentrates on the relationship between social justice (including factors such as educational equity, equality, and fairness) and the capacity for self-development, and comprehensively analyzes Japan’s overall education system. Third, in the educational policies, Japanese ideas of realizing social justice and strategies for enhancing students’ capacity for individual self-development are clarified. Finally, relevant recommendations are provided in the conclusion.