1. by Shuaib Masters supported by Hazra Masters and Paayal Morar
in association with
A PARTNER’S JOURNEY
by Shuaib Masters
supported by
Hazra Masters
and
Paayal Morar

2. THE CONTEXT Small, family, entrepreneurial, growing……
Ownership legacy of several generations in education and training with successful management succession
Inception in 1993
Strategic location in Harare’s CBD
21 years professional training
17 years UK MBA part-time postgraduate education
Collaborative outsourcing flexible model

4. PROBLEMS create OPPORTUNITIES
NTU announce exit from all global partnerships 2007
OLC ‘s platform of successful UK postgraduate education collaboration with NTU since 1995
2009 US dollarisation and Government of National Unity
OLC’s access to Zimbabwe’s corporate, public and NGO sectors
Directly & through executive alumni
UoG’s interest in a unique, strong diverse partner

5. RISK MITIGATION OLC ownership background and reputation
Legal framework and stakeholders
Governance and QA
UoG reputation
OLC finances
UoG finances
Family competences and managerial depth
Currency Z$ to US$ to £
Country risk – worst case scenarios

6. DUE DILIGENCE and COLLABORATION
2009 Reconnaisance visit by UoG Business School
Meeting with acting Deputy VC and CP management
Business Case PGCM, PGDM, MBA, MSc A&F
2010 IAV proposal followed by Panel visit
The Agreement
QA structure and processes implementation
Sep 2010 Successful launch after intensive marketing drive
Partnership control, coordination and collaboration
Successful QA reports and Periodic Reviews
QAA HER meeting

7. EVOLUTION Masters’ stage Franchise to Validation
QA enhancement and development at UoG and OLC
Infrastructural and organisational enhancement
Soft – staff, style, shared values
Hard – strategy, systems, structure
Soft and Hard – skills
Synergy – transferring skills, sharing resources and integrating activities
Collaboration channel and process enhancement

8. A FEW CHALLENGES OVERCOME
Transition from NTU to UoG
Dubai and PGCERT FM
Student access to online resources
Transcripts
Entry requirement contextualisation
Financial arrangements
Management changes at UoG
Implementation of enhanced QA processes and procedures at both ends
Transition to new validated programme

9. QUO VADIS?
ZIMCHE (Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education) local QAA submission in September 2015
Regional Expansion mooted at the outset
Zambia through Southern Acacia University
Existing products new market
Concentric diversification – distance learning and blended learning
Research collaboration