Global Advanced Research Journal of Management and Business Studies (ISSN: 2315-5086) November 2015 Vol. 4(10), pp 407-412

Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals   

Original Research Articles

Strategic Imperatives Fostering Environments that Accelerate Learning and Creativity in the Zimbabwe Open University

¹Professor Primrose Kurasha and  ²Professor Daniel Ndudzo

¹Vice Chancellor; Zimbabwe Open University

²Registrar; Zimbabwe Open University

Corresponding author Email: chrischiwome@gmail.com

Accepted 07 November 2015

Abstract 

This study gathered information from the leadership team of the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) on strategic imperatives fostering environments that accelerate learning and creativity in the Zimbabwe Open University. This was a case study of one university. The information was triangulated with developments in the global arena. The leadership that participated in the study were purposively sampled by the University Registrar. The findings of the study revealed that strategic imperatives fostering environments that accelerate learning and creativity in the Zimbabwe Open University include, but not limited to access and demand for Higher Education, limited focus on science and technology, governance issues, funding constraints, quality assurance, staff rationalisation/ utilisation, emerging opportunities, regionalisation/ globalisation and access and use of ICTs. The study concluded that ZOU is well positioned to foster an environment that nurtures creativity, innovation and student learning once it addresses the mentioned strategic imperatives.

Keywords: Open and distance learning, strategic imperatives, innovation, creativity and student learning.