Current Research Projects — University of Lusaka
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Research Excellence

Current Research Projects

Ongoing, collaborative research projects being led by UNILUS faculty, in partnership with regional and international institutions.

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Ongoing Project

Digital Assessment & Learning Analytics in Higher Education

The Digital Assessment & Learning Analytics project is a collaborative initiative between the UNILUS Centre for Teaching & Learning and the Faculty of Education, examining how digital assessment tools and learning analytics dashboards can improve student throughput on extended and foundation programmes at UNILUS.

The research is based on the premise that early, data-informed intervention improves retention on first-year courses. The project uses a design-based research (DBR) methodology, in which lecturers and researchers work together to design, trial and refine digital assessment tools within live courses. The project will be piloted in two foundation courses — Academic Literacy and Quantitative Reasoning — both offered to students on UNILUS's extended degree pathway.

Aims

  • Research sustainable, practical approaches to digital formative assessment in Zambian higher education.
  • Develop a learning analytics dashboard that flags at-risk students early in the semester.
  • Build the assessment-design skills of UNILUS teaching staff through structured professional development.
  • Contribute Zambian case-study evidence to the regional literature on digital learning analytics.
Project Partners
  • UNILUS Centre for Teaching & Learning — lead unit
  • UNILUS Faculty of Education — collaborating faculty
  • International Growth Centre — policy research support

Research Team

JM

Dr Jane Mwansa

Principal Investigator
DB

Mr David Banda

Co-Investigator
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Ongoing Project

Strengthening Primary Health Systems in Peri-Urban Lusaka

This project, led by the UNILUS School of Health Sciences, investigates how community health worker programmes can be strengthened to improve maternal and child health outcomes in peri-urban settlements around Lusaka. The research combines household surveys with qualitative interviews conducted alongside local clinic staff.

Findings from the project are intended to directly inform Ministry of Health outreach planning, and the team works closely with local health facilities throughout the data collection process to ensure findings are practical and locally relevant.

Aims

  • Map current community health worker coverage and workload across three peri-urban catchment areas.
  • Identify barriers to maternal and child health service uptake in these communities.
  • Produce policy-relevant recommendations for the Ministry of Health and local health facilities.
Project Partners
  • UNILUS School of Health Sciences — lead unit
  • University of South Carolina — collaborating research partner
  • Local peri-urban health clinics — data collection partners

Research Team

PP

Dr Precious Phiri

Principal Investigator
MT

Dr Michael Tembo

Co-Investigator
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Ongoing Project

Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Lusaka

Led by the UNILUS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub, this project studies how student-led startups access mentorship, funding and market linkages within Lusaka's growing entrepreneurship ecosystem. The research draws on UNILUS's own Market Days and Entrepreneurship Days events as live case studies of student venture formation.

The project aims to build an evidence base that can shape how UNILUS designs its own incubation and technology transfer support going forward, while contributing to the broader regional conversation on youth entrepreneurship in Southern Africa.

Aims

  • Document the journey of student ventures from idea to early revenue.
  • Identify the most significant barriers to funding and mentorship access for student founders.
  • Recommend improvements to UNILUS's incubation and technology transfer support model.
Project Partners
  • UNILUS Innovation & Entrepreneurship Hub — lead unit
  • African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) — collaborating network

Research Team

GL

Dr Grace Lungu

Principal Investigator
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Involved in a UNILUS research project?

If you'd like your ongoing project listed here, or want to get involved in one of these projects, contact the Research Office.

Email research@unilus.ac.zm