18 July 2016

New Government Complex

Harare

Attention:

Re: Request to Undertake Research on Organisational & Research Culture of African

Universities (ORCA) in Zimbabwean Universities

I am writing to humbly request for permission to carry out research on organisational and
research cultures in Zimbabwean universities. This stems against the backdrop wherein the
Research and Intellectual Outputs, Science, Engineering and Technology (RIOSET) Expo
Organising Committee and the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) noted
the need to upscale research activities and outputs in higher education institutions in
Zimbabwe. As part of this drive to improve research in universities, ZIMCHE has assigned
its Deputy CEO (who is also the Secretary of RIOSET), to participate in a continent-wide
research project on Organisational and Research Culture in African Universities (ORCA).
The Zimbabwe ORCA Project Team Leader is Dr Juliet Thondhlana from the University of
Nottingham.

The project will run for two years culminating in a country-wide workshop to disseminate the
research results. Initial data collection will commence during the period 18-29 July 2016.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully