Zim, US cooperation register increase in college enrolment

Gibson Nyikadzino

Zimpapers Politics Hub

The United States has registered an overall 6,6 percent increase in the number of Zimbabwean students enrolled at its colleges and universities for the 2023-2024 academic year, compared with the same period in the previous year, the Harare embassy has said.

In a statement, the embassy said a report issued by the Institute of International Education says 1 907 Zimbabweans are enrolled at institutions of higher learning in the US, making the country a preferred academic destination for locals.

The embassy attributed the increase to the increasing cooperation and partnerships between the people of Zimbabwe and the US.

“The United States remains in the top three destination countries for Zimbabweans studying abroad, after South Africa and the United Kingdom,” the statement reads.

Undergraduate students constitute 49 percent, 32 percent for graduate students, 18 percent are involved in optional practical training and the remaining one percent are enrolled in non-degree programmes.

The embassy said the greatest leap in enrolment is among graduate students, with a 15 percent increase from the previous year.

The continued interest of Zimbabweans studying in the United States shows growing interest to explore higher education options and confirms the thawing of relations between the two countries.