History and State of Private Higher Education in Zambia

Over the past decade, the Zambian higher education terrain has been characterized by an unprecedented proliferation of private sector provision of higher education. The country has witnessed a surge in the number of private universities from one university in 2003 to more than fifty universities in 2023. This proliferation is not unique to Zambia, as the rapid expansion of the private higher education sector is part of a ‘global revolution’ accounting for most growth in higher education sectors across the world. Drawing on secondary data sources, this chapter interrogates the recent development and growth of private higher education in Zambia, by highlighting how the sector has evolved over the past two decades to occupy an integral part of the country’s education terrain. Among other aspects, the chapter discusses the factors accounting for the recent growth of private universities and examines the legislative and regulatory framework governing the operation of these institutions. It also profiles Zambia’s private higher education sector by highlighting the typologies of private universities, teaching and learning, and the recent trends in the sector. In the last section, the challenges confronting private universities in relation to quality issues, funding, and governance are addressed. The conclusion draws together the threads of the discussion by suggesting recommendations on the way forward needed to reposition private higher education as a key sector in widening access and steering development in Zambia.