University Act, 1992
The University Act, 1992 (Chapter 136 of the Laws of Zambia) is an act of Parliament that provides the legal framework for the establishment, regulation, control, and functions of public and private universities in Zambia. It came into force on 31 July 1992 and repealed the earlier University of Zambia Act and Copperbelt University Act of 1987. The Act continues to serve as the primary law governing higher education institutions, alongside subsequent legislation such as the Higher Education Act, 2013 and its amendments.
Background
Prior to 1992, public universities in Zambia were regulated separately under the University of Zambia Act, 1987 and the Copperbelt University Act, 1987. The enactment of the University Act, 1992 consolidated the legal framework into a single piece of legislation, streamlining governance, academic administration, and oversight of both public and private universities.
Provisions
Definitions
The Act provides key definitions, including:
- Public university – any institution wholly or partly maintained by the Government or a local authority.
- Private university – an institution of higher learning not financed by public funds.
- Other offices and structures defined include the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, Librarian, Council, Senate, schools, and departments.
Public universities
The Act recognises the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University as public universities, while also allowing the Minister of Education to establish additional public universities by statutory instrument. It also empowers the Minister, upon recommendation from a university Senate, to designate constituent colleges.
Public universities are mandated to:
- provide higher education and promote research and scholarship;
- offer opportunities without discrimination;
- maintain academic standards in both liberal and professional education.
Governance
The Act sets out the governance structure of universities, which includes:
- Chancellor – the ceremonial head, appointed under the Act, responsible for presiding at official functions and awarding degrees.
- Vice-Chancellor – chief executive officer, responsible for academic and administrative leadership.
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, and Librarian – responsible for specific functions of management, administration, finance, and library services.
- Council – the supreme governing body of a public university, with corporate status and powers of administration.
- Senate – the supreme academic authority, responsible for academic policy, admission, examinations, awards, and research.
Private universities
The Act introduced a framework for the registration and regulation of private universities. These institutions are required to register with the Ministry of Education, comply with admission and examination standards, and operate under guidelines set out by the Act and later reinforced by the Higher Education Authority.
Repeal and transitional provisions
The Act repealed the University of Zambia Act, 1987 and the Copperbelt University Act, 1987. All property, contracts, and obligations of the previous universities and councils were transferred to the new councils established under the 1992 Act.
Amendments
The University Act has been amended several times, most notably by the Higher Education Act, 2013 and the Higher Education (Amendment) Act, 2021. These amendments introduced additional quality assurance mechanisms, accreditation processes, and the establishment of the Higher Education Authority to regulate both public and private institutions.
See also
References
- University Act, 1992 – Zambia Legal Information Institute (ZambiaLII)
- University Act summary – Policy Vault Africa
- Higher Education (Amendment) Act, 2021 – Scribd copy
- Parliament of Zambia – Acts
