UNZA launches IRIMS to transform research management and boost visibility

The University of Zambia (UNZA) has officially launched the training phase for its newly developed Integrated Research Information Management System (IRIMS) at the main campus in Lusaka. The initiative marks a critical turning point for the country’s premier higher learning institution as it moves away from fragmented, paper-based tracking toward a centralized digital architecture. Academic staff, researchers, and administrative personnel have gathered to undergo orientation aimed at mastering the platform, which is designed to streamline how institutional grants, scholarly publications, and intellectual property are managed. Officially opening the training program, UNZA Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Prof. Trywell Kalusopa, emphasized that the system is engineered to elevate the international profile of local research outputs. In an era where global academic standing heavily relies on digital indexing and open-access visibility, IRIMS will serve as a single gateway showcasing Zambian scholarship. Prof. Kalusopa noted that the platform will drastically reduce administrative bottlenecks, ensuring that researchers can focus more on inquiry and community impact rather than cumbersome paperwork. Complementing these remarks, Acting Director of the Directorate of Research and Development (DRD), Prof. Erastus M. Mwanaumo, highlighted that the system directly aligns with the university's strategic objectives to foster multi-disciplinary collaboration. By housing a comprehensive database of expertise and ongoing projects across various schools and departments, IRIMS makes it seamless for internal and external partners to identify synergies. This discoverability is expected to foster stronger consortiums capable of tackling pressing national socio-economic challenges, ranging from public health to agricultural productivity. The deployment of IRIMS arrives at a time when Zambian universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible returns