CBU Launches The Strategic Plan

There was jubilation at the Copperbelt University on Friday 19th March 2010, when the Chairman of CBU Council, Mr. Felix N. Mfula, officially launched the institution’s long awaited Strategic Plan for the period 2009 to 2010, on the theme: Towards a Culture of Institutional Accountability, Academic Excellency and Stability.

Chairman of CBU Council Mr. Felix N. Mfula handing the Strategic Plan to the Vice Chancellor of the Copperbelt University Prof. Mutale Mike Musonda

In his address at the launch, the Chairman pointed out that the last strategic plan for the institution was for the period 2000 to 2004 and although the institution had developed an interim plan, dubbed ‘Survival Plan’ for the years 2004 – 2007, it has had no Strategic Plan since the lapse of the last one. He added that modern organizations can not survive without planning their activities in a systematic and organized manner and that every organization should determine its goals and work out how to achieve agreed goals. He called on the institution to apply the Strategic Plan, among others on the following:

• Improvement on the quality of the graduates so that they are well regarded and sought after by industry and business,
• Tap on Government and donor support and engage in public-private-partnerships, especially in the areas of student hostel and staff accommodation.
• Direct research efforts towards generation of new ideas that result in improved standards of the living for the majority of our people.

This Plan was formulated by a committee, chaired by the University Librarian, and was evolved through the direct participation of all units of the CBU and consultation with a wide range of other stakeholders.     It aims to offer clear directions to all stake holders on the objectives of the University as well as the objectives of each unit. It has given the vision of the University as:

To be one of the most preferred oasis of knowledge and dynamic centre of excellence in Zambia, Africa and beyond.

The Plan addresses various challenges that the institution has faced over the years, which are directly related to the core functions of the University. The results of reviewing the global and regional context of higher education, situational analysis and SWOT analysis suggested ten strategic directions that could lead to the fulfillment of the Vision of the Copperbelt University. These were listed in order of priority as follows:

• Infrastructure development and rehabilitation
• Academic programme development
• Human resources and staff welfare
• Institutional management and governance
• Research and publications
• Financial planning and management
• Student welfare, sport and recreation
• University ethos and values
• Corporate image of the University
• University marketing strategy

The University will apply the Plan to be a vehicle to aspire for autonomy, not only in its operations, but also on income generation. The University has thus far relied and depended on Government subversions, a situation that needs to change to turn towards financial autonomy through utilization of available human resource to increase internal income from contract research and consultancy.

The Plan has identified CBU’s advantage of being situated in a highly industrialized centre of the country and will take the challenge of providing services to industry at a fee. It is, however, recognized that this will only be possible after the University is equipped with appropriate equipment for analysis of metal ores, water and other materials and incubating indigenous technologies and to market the available expertise to potential customers.