College Profile - Interview with ZAMIM

The Zambia Insititute of Management (ZAMIM) was established in 1974. At that time, the school’s training programmes were designed to develop personnel in the transport sector. However, over the years, ZAMIM has evolved from a driver training school into a management development institute (MDI) of international repute.  Zamim now operates four campuses within the country, each campus offering specific portfolios of professional and vocational training programmes as per specialisation.

Keep reading below to see Mr. Mugala and Mr. Musongole’s thoughts on the ABMA and education in Africa.

Mr. Mugala - Emmasdale Campus

How do you think your students benefit from an international qualification?

It gives students a broader perspective and an international understanding of industry. The students develop an appreciation of the problems within that industry and can adjust the problem solving to their local environment. Obtaining an international qualification, like the ABMA Diploma, means that the qualification is also highly respected in other African countries which is a huge benefit for our students if they wish to cross the boarder to seek employment.

What advantages, do you think, an ABMA qualification will give your students in the job market?

The course content is rich and very applicable to the industry. Clearing Forwarding and Shipping Management, for example, is very useful as it gives students the opportunity to start their own businesses. This is because the course content has an immediate relevance to what is happening in the industry. Many of our students are now self-employed after completing their ABMA studies. In order to be able to start your own business in Clearing Forwarding and Shipping Management you need to have a professional qualification, like the ABMA Diploma, as you cannot be given a license without this sort of qualification.

From your perspective, what are the main benefits of obtaining an ABMA qualification?

An ABMA qualification is very valuable to students if they wish to further their studies with universities. In addition to this, other colleges accept ABMA students to enter professional courses. In many cases the ABMA qualification is seen as a benchmark. In order to succeed in the employment market, like in the clearing, forwarding and shipping industry for instance, it has proven to often be very hard to obtain a successful career without a qualification such as the ABMA Diploma.

How do you feel that ABMA provide for the needs of your students in general?

What has become a real value to students is the dissertation. They learn a lot more as they are exposed to the industry practises when writing for a company within the industry. In this way they are able to put the learnt theory into practice.

Mr. Musongole - City Campus

What can you tell us about the relationship between the ABMA and ZAMIM?

It is a fruitful relationship and student numbers are constantly growing as the ABMA continues to establish itself as a leading foreign exams body in Zambia. Our regular contact with the ABMA enables us to effectively plan for every examinations series and ensure that our students are given every opportunity to succeed. We appreciate that the management at ABMA has taken time to visit us in order to discuss our working relationship and how together we can reach our goals set for the future.

How successful are ABMA courses at your college?

ABMA courses have proven to be very successful and the student numbers keep increasing. Public Relations and Personnel Administration is especially well received by students and the college is handling it very professionally. Computer courses such as Computer Science and Information Technology and Computer Systems Engineering and Hardware Maintenance have also proven to be very successful at our college.

In what ways do you think the ABMA is having an effect on education in Zambia?

ABMA offers the opportunity for everyone to obtain an international recognised qualification as the ABMA qualifications are the best value for money. The courses are rich and highly practical as the dissertation units enables the students to apply theory into practice contributing to a qualification that gives students an advantage in the job market and also when progressing into University studies.

Would you recommend ABMA diplomas to your new students and why?

Of course, because ABMA courses offer the students 'hands-on' knowledge through their dissertation and it is very well received by both employers and universities ensuring that students reach their full potential.