Published on , 27 Jul, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ZUT SIGNS LANDMARK MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NATIONAL REMOTE SENSING CENTRE

23 July 2026 | Lusaka, Zambia

The Zambia University College of Technology (ZUT) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), marking another significant milestone in strengthening collaboration between academia and industry in advancing science, technology and innovation in Zambia.
The signing ceremony was held on 24 July 2026 in Lusaka.

Speaking during the ceremony, NRSC Executive Director, Dr. Patrick Sibanda, said that emerging technologies such as Earth observation, satellite systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data are transforming the way governments and industries make decisions.

He emphasized that institutions of higher learning and industry must work together to produce graduates equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical competencies required by today's technology-driven economy.

Dr. Sibanda noted that the specialised technologies and operations undertaken at the National Remote Sensing Centre are currently not taught at any university in Zambia, making collaboration with ZUT particularly important in developing the country's future workforce.

He further expressed satisfaction that the partnership had already begun yielding positive results even before the formal signing of the MoU.
"We are currently privileged to have students from the Zambia University College of Technology undertaking internship training at the National Remote Sensing Centre. What has been particularly impressive is that these students have gone beyond merely observing operations.

They have actively contributed innovative solutions that are already transforming aspects of our operations and demonstrating the immense value that young talent can bring when given the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals," said Dr. Sibanda.

Speaking at the same event, ZUT Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr. Betty Bweupe described the partnership as an important investment in Zambia's future scientists, engineers, innovators and technology leaders.

She stated that ZUT has already demonstrated the value of strong collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation, strengthening human capital and accelerating national development.

Dr. Bweupe emphasized that this Memorandum of Understanding should translate into concrete outcomes, including collaborative curriculum development, joint research projects, innovation challenges, industrial attachments and internships, specialised training programmes and technology development initiatives that deliver measurable benefits for both institutions and the nation.

She further acknowledged that while the specialised expertise available at NRSC is not currently offered by any university in Zambia, ZUT is ready to embrace the challenge by working closely with the Centre to develop relevant curricula that respond to industry needs.

Zambia now hosts a specialised Ground Receiving Station, one of the country's most advanced scientific and engineering facilities, responsible for receiving, processing and disseminating Earth observation satellite data.
The partnership between ZUT and NRSC is expected to strengthen national capacity in space science, geospatial technologies and remote sensing while enhancing Zambia's competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global technology landscape.

The collaboration is also expected to establish a sustainable pipeline for identifying, developing and nurturing highly skilled graduates who will contribute to the continued growth of the National Remote Sensing Centre and the broader space and geospatial sector in Zambia.

The Memorandum of Understanding reinforces ZUT's commitment to building strategic partnerships that bridge academia and industry, foster innovation, and produce graduates equipped with the practical skills and technological expertise needed to drive Zambia's socio-economic transformation.