Overview & History
ICU Zambia is built on a bold idea — that education should inspire invention, not just usage. A legacy rooted in Korea, now shaping minds across Africa.
Our Mission
Education tailored for problem solving
ICU's mission is to offer education tailored towards problem solving — "cognitive processing directed at achieving a goal when no solution method is obvious to the problem solver." This sets a strong foundation for ICT development in Zambia.
Rather than teaching learners to merely use technologies developed elsewhere, ICU stimulates invention, creativity, and innovation. Our approach inspires critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making — preparing graduates to lead, not follow.
What Students Gain
A curriculum built to develop the whole thinker
Critical & Creative Thinking
Students develop curiosity, confidence, and open-mindedness through problem-centred learning.
Research & Publication
Every graduating student publishes an academic research paper in an international journal.
Global Collaboration
ICU works with Moscow Power Engineering Institute on research, teaching innovation, and joint education programmes.
Innovation & Problem Solving
Students are equipped to transfer skills to new situations, define goals, and experiment with solutions.
Our History
From Daejeon to Kafue
ICU's story began in South Korea in 1998 — a pioneering institution in ICT research and engineering. After a controversial merger in 2009, a group of dedicated academics resolved to carry the university's legacy forward through international education, eventually establishing ICU Zambia.
1998
Founded in Korea
Information and Communications University established in Daejeon, South Korea — a research-focused institution in IT engineering and management. Courses were taught primarily in English, attracting students globally.
2006
International Reach
By 2006, approximately 20% of enrolled graduate students were international, reflecting ICU's commitment to global education in technology.
2009
Merger with KAIST
On March 1, 2009, ICU merged into KAIST as the Information Technology Convergence Campus — a controversial decision that prompted senior faculty to preserve the institution's legacy.
2009+
ICU Reborn
A consortium of Professors and Directors of Research Centres founded a new ICU to perpetuate the legacy through international training and distance education, with its subsidiary established in Zambia.