Message from the President

On behalf of the Institute of Doctors of Philosophy, other category of Doctors such as DBA or equivalent professional terminal degree holders and Professors, I hereby announce and present good news to all employers on the labour market, Universities, key stakeholders and the individual persons who have competently attained the Doctorate degree level and/or Professorship status. We recognize that this academic journey has been rough for you and indeed, this took many years for you to reach the terminal and last Degree level in the academic ladder.

The good news in this context is that, hope has come finally even to those who thought studying for a Doctorate, DBA or PhD Degree programme was a sheer waste of time. Indeed, for a long time, we merely carried titles of Doctor or Professor with no well-defined benefits. The good news is that, we are now registered as a Professional Association to regulate ourselves and bring sanity to the fraternity. Our registration with the Registrar of Society came into effect on 10th February, 2026. Accordingly, a certificate of registration No. ORS/102/35/00092 was issued after having met all the registration legal formalities.

Our Professional entity is registered to protect the interests of all persons who have academically earned and awarded their Doctorate Degrees such as DBA, Ph.D - Degrees from recognized universities. We are a Non-Profit Making Professional Association registered in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of the Zambian Constitution which provides for freedom of association. The main aim of this organization is to regulate ourselves, bring sanity to the fraternity and secure the recognition by public perception. Through this arrangement, we are becoming a collective voice capable of providing solutions to many of our economic and social challenges faced by our nations.

Nevertheless, to obtain a terminal degree is not an easy matter but this entails being set apart from the rest for value addition. We are now looking forward to a situation where one day society should be able to realize that we do not just carry titles of doctor for prestige. The public should be able to appreciate the importance of education in economic development through this collective platform of different expertise. This professional Association ensures that the holders of such professional qualifications are recognized, set apart and fully utilized for economic development. The Institution endeavors to collaborate on quality assurance with universities offering Doctorate Degrees to ensure that all such degrees are credible.

The vision of having this professional umbrella started years back and though it tallied, surely today it has come to pass and we are now a beacon of hope and a collective wisdom of learned minds. We are registered to serve as a reservoir of advanced knowledge, skills, talents and intellectual capital capable of providing independent, credible and evidence‑based advice on matters of national, regional and global importance, including education, governance, economic development, science, technology, health, environment and social policy.

The Institute of Doctors of Philosophy and Professors has been established as a National and International Think Tank to provide evidence‑based policy recommendations. We are here to join and collaborate with other like minds and research related institutions in the area of research. In this regard, we shall conduct, commission and coordinate high‑quality research, policy analysis and impact assessments, and produce policy briefs, white papers, advisory reports and position papers that inform Government, Parliament, public institutions, private sector and international organizations. We shall endeavor to create a platform for knowledge sharing and mentorship by bringing together senior scholars, emerging researchers and young academics for Knowledge exchange, Mentorship and coaching.

We aim to uphold academic integrity and protect the value of Doctorate and Professorship status. In this regard, we shall strive to promote ethical conduct, academic honesty, quality assurance and professional standards among holders of Doctorate qualifications, and to safeguard the credibility and dignity of these qualifications.

In terms of influencing policy and public discourse, we shall actively participate in national and international dialogue through public lectures and expert forums, media engagements and expert commentary, policy dialogues, roundtables and stakeholder consultations. The Institute of Doctors of Philosophy and Professors will stand out to promote research, innovation and knowledge production by encouraging and supporting multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research among members, including collaborative research projects, applied and problem‑solving research, and innovation, technology transfer and commercialization of research outputs.

We visualize a situation where we shall work towards strengthening national capacity for development planning and decision‑making. In this case, our institute will provide expert consultancy services, technical advisory services and strategic guidance to Government ministries, public institutions, private sector, civil society and international partners based on scientific evidence and best global practices.

We shall build strategic partnerships and collaborations. In this regard, we aim to collaborate with universities, research institutions, professional bodies, Government agencies, international organizations and development partners through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance research, training, funding and policy impact.

One of our key roles in this journey will be to ensure financial sustainability of the Institute. This is only actualized by establishing sustainable income streams that support the Institute’s independence and long‑term operations through strategies like:

• Membership subscriptions and institutional membership fees
• Consultancy and advisory services
• Research grants and commissioned studies
• Conferences, seminars, training programs and executive courses
• Publications, journals and policy reports
• Endowments, donations and strategic partnerships

We, in the IDPP, will enhance the visibility, credibility and respect of the Institute to position IDPP as a respected authority by:

1. Publishing peer‑reviewed journals and policy papers
2. Hosting high‑level national and international conferences
3. Recognizing excellence through awards, fellowships and honorary recognitions
4. Maintaining strong governance, transparency and accountability

We stand out to be a voice and platform that shall contribute to regional and global knowledge systems. This is attainable when we engage in international research networks, global policy platforms and academic collaborations, ensuring that African and Zambian perspectives contribute meaningfully to global debates and solutions.

Time has come for all Doctors of Philosophy and Professors to rise to the occasion collectively and re‑brand in order to become relevant. All Doctors of philosophy and Professors must come together as collective wisdom and learned minds. Let us cast this vision, run with it and be part of this movement.

Thank you and God bless you.