Global community
Future forward: powering positive progress in Zambia
How Heriot-Watt is developing a partnership for the future, supporting access to education and sharing leading expertise.
It is fifty years since our first Zambian student qualified from the University with a diploma in Brewing and Distilling in 1973. Now we have a vibrant, dynamic community of Zambian graduates and a strong relationship with the country.
In 2023, the Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, acknowledged Heriot-Watt’s contribution to developing much-needed talent.
During his visit to Scotland, President Hichilema gave a keynote address at the University’s Panmure House, in which he specifically thanked the University for educational support of Zambian citizens:
“Now, Heriot-Watt and Zambia. Over 1,000 graduates – thank you very much! These continuing programmes are very, very well appreciated by us.
The businesses you have helped that are run by Heriot-Watt graduates – the majority of those are led by women. And [our] government is working with them as well. So, thank you to Heriot-Watt for that fantastic link.”
Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema addresses an invited audience at Panmure House
Over 1,000 graduates – thank you very much!”
Developing skills and ambition to effect positive change
Watt Club Zambia is a community of likeminded and ambitious individuals who are striving to make a difference.”
Many of our Zambian alumni have studied an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) at our Edinburgh Business School. They include senior board directors of several leading Zambian banks and life insurers, as well as many entrepreneurs creating businesses to build skills and economic prosperity in their local communities and beyond.
In January 2020, through a partnership with the Scottish Government, we launched 20 MBA scholarships for Women in Zambia. More recently, our Denis Goldberg Scholarships are enabling talented graduate employees to support their organisations to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Regina Mtonga, a graduate of the Women in Zambia MBA scholarship programme, is a co-founder of the social enterprise Asikana Network. This organisation has trained more than 30,000 women in technology skills, working with leading international companies.
“I wanted to use technology to create a community of confident and capable women and to help more women find employment. We help address the low number of women and girls in technology in Zambia and show how women can find this field not only fun to work in but also help them see how to generate income using the skills they learn.”
Margaret Sakufiwa, a 2023 graduate, launched a new bakery and confectionery business using knowledge from her MBA studies.
“My company provides confectionery treats to customers within Lusaka. My goal is to grow the business into a Zambian brand with a number of outlets. One of the barriers that holds back a lot of women from advancing their education and careers is lack of access to finance. I come from a family where women have never gone further in their education.”
Securing a Women in Zambia MBA scholarship allowed Margaret to pursue her academic ambitions. Now she hopes to launch a finance consultancy to help improve financial literacy in Zambia.
“I’d like to help bridge the gap in financial literacy in Zambia. I want to partner with schools and universities to teach financial literacy and advise people on how to manage, save and invest their money.”
Norman Chipakupaku, a Heriot-Watt alumnus and former Watt Club Council President, is the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence in the Zambian Government. He undertook his degree at Heriot-Watt after working for many years in Africa and the UK.
“I undertook my MSc in Business Management at Heriot-Watt as I approached turning 50. I had struggled to get the education I wanted growing up in Zambia, so gaining my business qualification as an older learner later in life was a defining moment.
Then my involvement with the University Court and the Watt Club Council started from 2006. I was very proud to have been the first African to serve as a Watt Club Council President and to have played a role in the growth of the alumni community around the world. One particularly important achievement was the establishment of a Watt Club branch in Zambia, and I’m delighted this is now a flourishing community.
I was also delighted to help play a role in the creation of scholarships for students from Zambia – made possible through alumni support.
It has also been fantastic to witness the growth of the charity, First Aid Africa – established by Heriot-Watt student, and now Honorary Graduate, Sam Abrahams. He put alumni support to excellent use, developing his idea into an inspiring social enterprise.
Without doubt, I am what I am because of Heriot-Watt: my degree and the networks of friends and contacts I made through the University changed my life.”
I am what I am because of Heriot-Watt”
Recipients of the MBA scholarships
Norman Chipakupaku with (left) Billy Mwape, founding President of The Watt Club Zambia, and (right) Sam Abrahams, the Club’s new President
Increasing collaboration to make a positive impact
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard A Williams reflects on how this past year brought opportunities to further cement the University’s relationship with Zambia:
“Building flourishing communities while developing our globally connected status is a key aspect of our ethos, so continuing the growth of our unique partnership with Zambia is important. It was a privilege and honour to meet His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema in Zambia in February, and then to welcome him to our University when he visited Scotland in May.
At Panmure House, President Hichilema addressed representatives from civic society, NGOs, the Scottish Government and Zambian diaspora at a special event hosted by our Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Sir Geoff Palmer. In this address he re-iterated the importance of the country’s relationship with Scotland in helping it to achieve its goals. He said: ‘We have always believed that education is the best investment a country can make. Zambia’s partnership with Scotland goes back many years and we welcome the opportunity to refresh and renew this historic friendship. Going forward, we are keen to collaborate around areas of education, around technology, and for example, across Scottish competencies in renewable energy – to improve Zambia’s capabilities’.
At Heriot-Watt, we look forward to continued delivery of high quality educational opportunities and knowledge transfer that can assist Zambia to make impressive strides towards transformative change. It’s very heartening that we have already supported many Zambian graduates to make a positive impact in their country. Ahead, we have been discussing with the Government and British Consulate some future projects ranging from higher education leadership development to specific projects looking at alternative technologies. These encompass sustainable cooling and support for village residents in accessing markets for agricultural products, which will have substantial benefits in terms of CO₂ mitigation and the boosting of local economies.”
We have already supported many Zambian graduates to make a positive impact in their country.”
Professor Richard A Williams with Hakainde Hichilema
L to R: HWU Chancellor, Emeritus Professor Sir Geoff Palmer, Humza Yousaf, Scottish First Minister, Hakainde Hichilema and Professor Richard A Williams
Building a flourishing community
Adam Gillies Alumni Engagement Manager
Expanding the reach, influence and impact of Watt Club Zambia
“We were excited to launch a branch of the Watt Club in Lusaka, Zambia in 2019. Billy Mwape, who studied an MBA, and is now working towards a DBA at Heriot-Watt, was its founding President. He led the Club’s development with great enthusiasm and a determination to expand its reach, influence and impact. Billy stepped down this year, and we are hugely grateful for his efforts and continuing support of the Watt Club’s aspirations.
Alumnus Sam Abrahams is the new Watt Club Zambia Chair. Founder of First Aid Africa (FAA), Sam is a recent Honorary Graduate of the University, recognised for his contribution as a social entrepreneur dedicated to improving and saving the lives of others. Working with organisations across the world with a particular focus on Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, Sam has grown FAA’s impact through networks of trainers who have gone on to train more than 60,000 people to deliver basic emergency medical care.
With the support of a dedicated committee, we are delighted he is now championing the work of Watt Club Zambia, which is a community of like-minded and ambitious individuals who are striving to make a difference in their country. The Club aims to support them in their endeavours through increased opportunities to develop their personal and professional networks, helping them gain access to advice and expertise and build connections that can increase their impact.”
Zambian graduates
Connect with Watt Club Zambia
Learn more about The Watt Club
