THE Institute of Internal Auditors Zimbabwe (IIAZ) and the Reformed Church University (RCU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement, which paves the way for the introduction of an internal auditing degree.
In an interview with NewsDay Business, IIAZ president Tafireyi Nyamazana said the partnership would attract more students to the internal auditing profession by offering a dedicated academic qualification.
“We are in the space of developing a pipeline of talent for the nation. While the university creates pipelines for many other programmes, we are focused specifically on the profession of internal auditing,” he said.
“We wanted to combine their experience and knowledge in talent development, research and knowledge creation with our practical expertise in internal auditing. The essence of this MoU is to attract as many people as possible to the field by giving them an opportunity to earn a degree directly related to internal auditing.”
He said that in the past, practitioners came from backgrounds such as accounting, without specific internal audit qualifications.
Hence, auditing is typically a subject when studying accounting.
“When we combine the theoretical framework with practical application, we develop professionals who are well-grounded in ethics, the discipline of internal auditing and the practical aspects of execution,” Nyamazana said.
The MoU will also foster collaboration with other local and international universities offering internal audit programmes, helping expand Zimbabwe’s talent pool in assurance and advisory services.
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Beyond the degree programme, the agreement also covers continuing professional development initiatives, including plans to introduce targeted certifications in emerging areas such as environmental, social and governance principles, and cybersecurity.
The initiative comes at a time when the internal audit profession is evolving rapidly, driven by data analytics, cyber risks and sustainability reporting.
“Globally, new internal auditing standards were issued in January this year, with topical requirements being developed to address emerging issues like cybersecurity and third-party risks,” Nyamazana said.
RCU vice-chancellor Emmanuel Dumbu said the collaboration was critical in equipping students with practical skills to address real-world challenges.
“As a training institution, we are responsible for preparing professionals who will plug leakages in the economy and uphold good governance by addressing issues such as corruption and resource abuse,” he said.
Dumbu said that through the partnership, RCU students would benefit from the expertise and standards expected in the internal auditing profession, ensuring they graduate with the requisite practical skills.
He added that the partnership would also close the gap between academic training and industry practice by enabling the university to continuously align its curriculum with current auditing and financial governance trends.
“We want to ensure that our programmes remain relevant to the needs of the market,” Dumbu said.
“This collaboration will help us regularly review our curriculum based on the demands of the auditing profession, ensuring our graduates are fully prepared to contribute meaningfully to the economy.”
Locally, IIAZ hosts monthly workshops, annual national conferences and participates in continental and global events to keep practitioners updated.
This year, IIAZ’s annual conference is set for September 10 to 14 in Victoria Falls, while the African Federation of Institutes of Internal Auditors’ conference will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, next month.
IIAZ members have access to international certifications like the Certified Internal Auditor and the Certification in Risk Management Assurance.
