A delegation from the University of Zambia poses with representatives of ORSEA member institutions at Makerere University Business School

Ahead of the 17th ORSEA Conference, the University of Zambia (UNZA) was officially considered for membership in the Operations Research Society of Eastern Africa (ORSEA) during a high-level meeting at Makerere University Business School (MUBS). Existing ORSEA member institutions including MUBS, the School of Business at the University of Nairobi, and the School of Business at the University of Dar es Salaam participated in welcoming UNZA into the regional network.

Prof. Trywell Kalusopa, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, led the UNZA delegation from the Graduate Business School, while the meeting was chaired by ORSEA Secretary-General, Prof. Wainana Gituro. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among member institutions, including joint research, staff and student exchanges, and academic program development.

Prof. Moses Muhwezi, Principal of MUBS and President of ORSEA, welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of regional partnerships in advancing graduate education and research. “Strengthening ties among African universities is essential for addressing shared economic challenges through innovation, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based policy engagement,” he said.

Strengthening ties among African universities is essential for addressing shared economic challenges through innovation, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based policy engagement,”

Prof. Moses Muhwezi

The UNZA team expressed appreciation for MUBS’s leadership in fostering academic collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives promoting excellence in teaching, research, and professional development. Both institutions agreed to develop a framework to guide future cooperation, paving the way for UNZA’s formal integration into the ORSEA network.

This engagement sets a strong tone for the 17th ORSEA Conference, which brings together scholars and practitioners from across Africa to share research and insights on operations research and management, while reinforcing ORSEA’s mission to expand its regional network