Pioneering Excellence in Agriculture Over the Years

Palabana University is the forerunner to the Clifton Youth Training Centre which was established in 1965 to provide training to youths in carpentry and vegetable production. The Centre later transformed in the 1970s into Palabana Dairy Training Institute (PDTI) providing farmer training in dairy farming. The training portfolio was later expanded in 1981 to include Certificate level courses in dairy and livestock production. In 2010 Diploma level training in livestock production was introduced.

In 2011, the President of the Republic of Zambia announced in Parliament the declaration of Palabana Dairy Training Institute as a public university. However, the legal framework to operationalize Palabana University was only provided in 2019 through issuance of Statutory Instrument No. 68 which dissolved the College and 69 which established the University. A Caretaker Council was appointed on 29th April, 2021 while the substantive Council was appointed on 12th April, 2023. On 6th March and 15th March, 2024 the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation and the Acting Vice Chancellor were appointed, respectively.

Today, Palabana University stands as one of the nine public universities registered under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) at level 7 of the HEA framework granting it the authority to award Bachelor’s Degrees. This level designation signifies its ability to offer undergraduate programs like Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, Bachelor of Agriculture with Education, and Bachelor of Aquaculture and Capture Fisheries – all programs crucial for the continued growth and development of Zambia’s agricultural sector.