• LIUTEBM Vice-Chancellor Patrick Kalifungwa (left) talks to Tim Knowles from Manchester Metropolitan University during a staff training workshop for LIUTEBM academic staff.

THE Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM) Zambia, which was established in 2010, has recorded an upward trajectory over the years.
With only four students who were enrolled at inception in 2010, the University currently has 362 students for the year 2015.
In 2011, the number of students stood at 115 while the number swelled to 279 in 2012 as well as 240 in 2013 and 239 in 2014.
The founders of this university are indigenous Zambian highly educated, professionals in various sectors of our economy with extensive industrial experience in education sector and other sectors of our Zambian economy including the global economy.
In the quest to be entrepreneurs, they have kept on dreaming of creating a unique higher learning institution which would the preferred choice in Zambia and the whole Africa delivering first class education, service and excellence to all its customers.
Therefore, the creation of LIUTEBM is not by accident but has been a long term dream and well thought out vision.
LIUTEBM is a private University wholly owned by a Zambian and registered in Zambia with the regulators of higher education the Ministry of Education with a mandate to award degrees.
It is also registered with TEVETA to offer courses at certificate and Diploma level.
LIUTEBM was incorporated as the first tertiary – education institution in tourism in Zambia, a private university in 2010 with linkages within and outside the country.
It is registered under the university Act No.11 of 1999 of the ministry of education.
LIUTEBM University is an emerging bonafide private international university offering global tertiary education.
According to LIUTEBM Founder and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Kalifungwa, the aim of the university is to offer the students a hybrid of quality theoretical and practical education.
Prof Kalifungwa, who is former Tourism Minister, says the development of tourism education at the tertiary level was long overdue in that while the compliments of tourism products have been adequate the knowledge and skills of the stakeholders and the learners have been restricted to another different level.
“Tourism education at the tertiary level enhances the capacity building of industrial players and would improve the benefits that the economy will derive out of the industry.
“Further, tourism plays a very important role in economic development by various countries including both developing and developed countries. A skilled workforce is at the heart of any successful economy,” Prof Kalifungwa said.
In terms of corporate governance issues, the university is governed by a board.
The board is the supreme decision making organ of the university and therefore superintends the lower organs of the university in terms of policy direction rules and regulations annual budgets and establishment issues.
On the other hand, the university values are customer focused, pursuit of excellence in service delivery; integrity, diligence to duty and innovation
It aspires to be the premier centre of excellence in the promotion and development of tourism industry education and allied services in Africa.
In terms of the mission, the University wants to build confidence and produce world class accepted graduates of multi-cultural diversity while its focus is to develop and provide a conducive learning environment for all.
“Our focus is to develop students of world class quality, improved mind set, cultural independence.
“This is done by ensuring that the study programmes are delivered exceptionally by qualified and experienced lecturers,” the University stated.
The University also hopes to provide highly specialised and quality knowledge, skills, competencies, and institutional capacities so as to bring about the promotion and development of tourism industry and allied services in Africa and enhance its contribution to the desired sustainable development of all its countries in our service areas.
Further, the institution’s mission of enhancing the human and ecological livelihoods for sustainable development means that the students’ future is the university’s top priority.
In order to enrich its knowledge and cross breed, the University is collaborating with other international universities.
LIUTEBM has established linkages and collaboration with both local and international institutions and universities to foster networking in project certification to achieve higher levels of quality and excellence.
Academic exchanges and research partnerships with higher learning educational institutions evolves to create partnerships for students and professionals to benefit from shared learning of current best practices, networking and career opportunity development.
It is important to note that the University is an associate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and a member of the UNWTO scientific committee of the knowledge network.
In this context, the knowledge network members play a crucial role in shaping the long term vision of the tourism sector and dealing with its multi-faceted network as an extensive research body of UNWTO to support innovation in policy, governance and other areas of tourism closely connecting with over 155 member states and the global tourism community at large.
LIUTEBM’s partners include University of Pretoria- South Africa, Mauritius University- Mauritius, Utali College (Nairobi University)- Kenya, University of Zambia, UNWTO- Associate member, UNWTO- Knowledge network, HTTI-Fairview Hotel Training College- Zambia, Private Universities Association- Zambia and Association of African Universities- Ghana.
Others are Manchester Metropolitan University – UK, University Malaysia Perlis- Malaysia, University Pembangunan Panca Budi- Indonesia, Daffodil University- Indonesia, Ubudiyah University- Indonesia, Kansai University – Japan, Calvin University – South Korea, Vits University- India and Bangkok University- Thailand.
In terms of outstanding achievements and through the able leadership of the Vice chancellor Prof. Dr. Patrick Kalifungwa, within a period of four years, the University has recorded a number of successes.
Since 2010, the student numbers has increased from four to 867 as at 20th September 2014 excluding 150 graduates representing an annual growth rate of over 100 per cent.
This growth rate is unmatched in the tourism sector in the country.
It also opened two Campuses last year one in the Eastern Region of Zambia (Lundazi) to carter for distance learners from a region with education potential of 30,000 grade 12 school leavers per annum.
The area is situated 800 Kilometers from Lusaka the capital city of Zambia.
The second Centre was opened in Lusaka to accommodate the Law Faculty and Postgraduate studies in a bid to manage the growing demand for tertiary education in Zambia.
In terms of training facilities, the University has Air conditioned lecture rooms as ell as well stocked reference library and a study room while internet is connected to the computer lab.
LIUTEBM University is also guided by very strict employment policy for its entire academic staff to ensure quality assurance is achieved in the delivery process.
All lecturers meet regulatory requirements of minimum master’s degree holder. In addition, all lecturers have industrial experience in their area of expertise with a minimum of three years.
The University held its first graduation ceremony on 13th, June 2014.
A total of 150 graduates were awarded various degrees on 12th June 2015 120 graduates were awarded various degrees.
To date, 85 per cent of the graduates have been absorbed by commerce and industry especially those from the faculty of Tourism and Hospitality.
“In addition, four of our graduates have won international scholarships to study at an international University in China called City University of Macau to pursue Master of Arts in International Tourism and Hospitality management starting since 6th October, 2014 and their performance was exemplary.
“This has led to more graduates of the June 12th 2015 graduates being awarded more scholarships at master level,” the University stated.