Zimbabwe lauds HEAC as pathway for fostering inclusive university access
According to FAWE Uganda, the successful implementation of the program has created a tangible impact across the country, with more institutions offering to partner to foster outreach.
A delegation from Zimbabwe and officials from FAWE Uganda pose for a photo moment after the meeting on Monday. (Courtesy)
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Officials from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) have hailed FAWE Uganda for implementing the HEAC program that offers under-deserving students an alternative window to access higher education.
The observation was made by Professor Fanuel Tagwira, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Zimbabwe, during a benchmarking visit hosted by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Uganda and FAWE Uganda.
Speaking on Monday at FAWE Uganda Offices in Bukoto, he noted that while across Africa many undeserved students do not qualify for higher education through the A’level channel, the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) Program offers solutions to address these bottlenecks.
“We are amazed by what FAWE Uganda is doing with the HEAC Program and how is seamlessly empowers students that would probably not access higher education. Inclusion for every student is critical, and I am sure this is the path for us to embrace,” Prof. Tagwira noted.
The delegation is in Uganda to study the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC), a bridging qualification piloted by FAWE Uganda in 2017 and accredited by NCHE in 2019 as a fourth official pathway into university education.
The visit will, among others, include meetings with NCHE Uganda and a courtesy call to Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports before visiting three HEAC-implementing universities: Busitema University in Tororo District, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Mbale Campus, and Ernest Cook University in Kampala.
According to FAWE Uganda Executive Director Susan Opok Tumusiime, the successful implementation of the program has created a tangible impact across the country, with more institutions offering to partner to foster outreach.
“Uganda’s experience with HEAC demonstrates that with the right structures, young people from underserved communities can access and succeed in higher education. We are proud to share our experience with Zimbabwe and to contribute to a broader continental conversation about equitable access to university education for all,” Opok added.
Opok, Executive Director FAWE Uganda, gifts Tagwira, head of delegation from Zimbabwe. (Courtesy)
About HEAC Program
HEAC was developed under the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP), a partnership between FAWE Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation.
The programme targets academically able young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who did not meet the minimum entry requirements for direct university admission.
Since its accreditation, HEAC has been adopted by multiple universities across Uganda and has enabled hundreds of young people to transition into degree programmes.
Meanwhile, HEAP is currently in its second phase, launched in April 2024, with a target of supporting 2,000 young people from 65 districts across Uganda.
The programme prioritises gender equity, with 80% of bursaries allocated to young women, and extends access to refugees and persons with disabilities.
In the 2025/2026 academic year, FAWE Uganda awarded 700 bursaries across university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.