A business academy founded by property mogul Ken Sharpe is in talks with American universities as it seeks to align its programmes with Ivy League standards, positioning itself as a premium business education hub in Zimbabwe.
Sharpe Business Academy (SBA), which debuted 18 months ago, has secured local accreditation from the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) and is now engaging United States universities as part of efforts to inject international exposure and enhance its competitive edge, chief executive officer Rutendo Mudzamiri said.
The move comes as demand grows for globally competitive, skills-based education amid travel barriers and tightening visa regimes for Zimbabweans seeking tertiary education abroad, with SBA pitching itself as a locally accessible alternative that blends international case studies, entrepreneurship training and practical business skills.
Ivy League schools are among the world’s most sought-after institutions of higher learning and include Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Cornell University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
“We love the premium Ivy League standard. We are saying Ivy-standard because we know what we are offering is based on exposure to what we have had either from Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, or any other international organisation that we worked with,” Mudzamiri said.
- CBZ taps Davos to deepen global investor engagement
- Afreximbank cuts ties with Fitch in rating row
- ZICT chair urges board training on cyber and AI risks
- Mixed-use REIT model best suited for Zimbabwe: FBC Securities
- IIZ lays groundwork for 2026, eyes targeted skills development
“To further strengthen what we are doing as Sharpe Business Academy, we have reached out to some of these universities. We are open to partnerships — bringing visiting scholars, hosting students, and potentially running some of their programmes in Zimbabwe. We are working towards that.”
Mudzamiri, who studied in the United States and Germany, said several Zimbabweans educated at top global universities, including Sharpe himself, were well placed to transfer that knowledge locally.
“We are bringing that standard here. We are confident and proud that this is what we are offering as an institution,” she said, adding that SBA is offering Harvard Business School case studies.
“We are giving the best. We are the Harvard that Africa never had in terms of the Ivy League standards we are offering.
She said many students cannot afford or access education in the United States due to costs and immigration restrictions, making local alternatives increasingly relevant.
“A lot of students cannot travel to the United States to be at Harvard, Princeton, Stanford. We are saying we have exposure; Mr Sharpe has gone to Harvard. Some of our team members have studied in the US and at some of the best universities in the world. We are saying, let’s bring that back to Zimbabwe. We are making it affordable, accessible.”
SBA’s push comes as the United States rolls out tighter immigration restrictions affecting citizens from several countries, including Zimbabwe.
Education experts say partnerships with top American universities would expand pathways for local students seeking internationally recognised qualifications.
Mudzamiri said more than 200 students have graduated from SBA since its launch.
Seed capital totalling US$52 000 has been invested in six top-performing students.
“This is how Mr and Mrs Sharpe are giving back to entrepreneurs, where they are staying true to their foundation and vision, where they are saying, ‘this is not about profit for us’. It’s about giving back to the community, giving back through mentorship, investment, and through time and resources,” Mudzamiri said.
SBA boasts alumni in over eight countries, with some former students pledging to sponsor future winners — an endorsement, Mudzamiri said, of the academy’s programmes.
“It shows people believe in our product and the future of the academy,” she said, adding that the flagship entrepreneurship programme has attracted over 2 400 sign-ups.
The 12-month programme, accredited by HEXCO, targets emerging and established entrepreneurs as well as executives.
“It attracts people who want to understand not just how to make money, but how to keep it — better accounting, sales, marketing and stewardship of business,” Mudzamiri said.
She said the academy’s unique selling point is that applicants submit business plans at entry.
“We work with those plans to measure and track success while developing practical skills in the subjects we offer.”
The academy plans to launch 12 executive programmes this year.
Mudzamiri said SBA was designed to bridge the gap between academia and the real economy, where graduates often struggle to translate theory into practice.
She praised the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development for maintaining strict accreditation standards.
“You don’t just get accredited without meeting requirements. The ministry is very strict on compliance, and that protects the quality of education,” she said.
“You don’t just get accredited if you don’t have all the required material needed. The ministry is very strict;
they are looking at compliance risks when it comes to education,” the executive said.
