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On building a university:
A thread on why we chose a university to be the heart of the city we’re building; and why it’s an important part of all the cities we hope to eventually build.
A thread on why we chose a university to be the heart of the city we’re building; and why it’s an important part of all the cities we hope to eventually build.
The world has a long history of college/university towns.
From Milan to Oxford and both Cambridges. Timbuktu to Cairo.
Since Medieval times universities have often been important parts of thriving cities.
From Milan to Oxford and both Cambridges. Timbuktu to Cairo.
Since Medieval times universities have often been important parts of thriving cities.
Nkwashi is about 26km from the outer edge of Lusaka’s South Eastern suburbs. It’s not a mining zone, or a manufacturing zone. So when planning this greenfield city there was the question of what activities would dominate its economy.
Education seemed like a natural choice. Zambia and Africa at large have large populations of students graduating each year; and not enough universities or tertiary institutions of learning to accommodate these graduates.
Many with means often study abroad.
Many with means often study abroad.
It seemed to us that there was an opportunity here to build institutions of learning that could serve this under-serviced sector.
In Zambia, many of the newer universities do not have strong engineering programs. Consequently the competition to study these programs at the long established public universities is pretty high.
In view of this—we decided we would focus on STEM.
In view of this—we decided we would focus on STEM.
Further, people often go to university so they can build the skills necessary to build a career.
We developed a talent accelerator to help with that; built with the goal of helping folks get placed into global remote work once they graduate.
We developed a talent accelerator to help with that; built with the goal of helping folks get placed into global remote work once they graduate.
Still doing a lot of learning so we can get this model right. But that’s the goal.
Why? Universities are great “poolers” of talent and labor. They bring together teaching staff, administrative staff and large populations of students. This can be the basis of an economy.
Why? Universities are great “poolers” of talent and labor. They bring together teaching staff, administrative staff and large populations of students. This can be the basis of an economy.
All these people have demands for goods and services; from housing to food, groceries and entertainment. These are opportunities for 3rd parties to service.
To the extent that a significant % of the students get placed into remote work...the student population ceases to be transient and instead graduates become long term residents.
If this flywheel keeps spinning and the population of students grows; the population of university staff grows too; and the overall population of satellite businesses and their staff supporting these communities grows too.
Eventually Nkwashi is filled up; and the population must grow somewhere else.
This creates the natural impetus to develop other cities where these populations can continue to grow.
This creates the natural impetus to develop other cities where these populations can continue to grow.
So this first step is very exciting for us because it could be the first step towards achieving the broader goals.
