Dr Julius Tapera (Assistant to the Vice Chancellor)

Dr J Tapera holds a  PhD in Strategic Management from the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT). Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Management (B. Comm. Mgt. (Hons.), both from the National University of Science & Technology (NUST). He also holds a Certificate in Programme Design & Accreditation; from the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), Certificate in Basic Higher Education Teaching Skills; Association of African Universities (AAU), Certificate in Research Writing Skills (jointly issued by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and Author AID, Certificate in Roles and Responsibilities of Directors; Institute of Directors of Zimbabwe (IODZ), Certificate in Workplace Labour Law; Stratways Consulting and Certificate in Entrepreneurship; International Labour Organization (ILO) Prior to his appointment to the position of Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, he had held various position in the University including being Lecturer and Chairperson of the Department of Accounting and Finance in the Faculty of Commerce, Acting Quality Assurance Director and Senior Institutional Analyst in the Quality Assurance Directorate, Vice-Chancellor’s Office. Before joining Lupane State University Mr Tapera had worked for the microfinance and banking sectors holding various senior positions, largely in corporate banking. Mr Tapera is a seasoned strategic planning consultant having consulted for a number of organisations including Bulawayo Polytechnic, Gweru Polytechnic, Microfinance Advisory Council, and Zimbabwe Energy Workers’ Union and is a current long-serving member of the Lupane State University Strategic Planning Committee. His research interests are in strategic management, leadership, corporate governance, quality assurance, higher education management and entrepreneurship.

Publications

1. Dlamini, B., Tapera, J. and Chivasa, S. (2017). Can Sound Corporate Governance Alleviate Corporate Failure? A Study of the Zimbabwean Financial Services Sector? Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies. [S.l.], v. 9, n. 2, p. 88-95, May 2017. ISSN 2220-6140.
2. Tapera, J. & Mbira, L. (2016). Key success drivers for Microfinance Institutions in Zimbabwe: Developing core competences for financial inclusion. International Journal of Business and Social Science. Volume 7, No.3, March 2016.
3. Tapera, J. (2015). Maximizing Brand Exposure in the 21st Century. Branding as a Strategy for Creating Competitive Edge. International Journal of Research Science and Management. February 2015 Issue.
4. Tapera, J. (2014). An Analysis of the Impact of Mobile Phone-Based Products on the Provision of Financial Services to the Individual Zimbabwean Customers. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management in the May 2014 Issue. Volume II, Issue 5, 2014.
5. Tapera, J. & Mawanza, W. (2014). An evaluation of the affinity for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and willingness to dilute shareholding among Zimbabwean companies; A case study of Bulawayo-based companies. Research Journal of Social Science and Management. Volume 4, No.1 (2014), 01 May 2014.
6. Tapera, J. (2014). The Importance of Strategic Management to Business Organizations. Research Journal of Social Science and Management. Volume 3, No.11 (2014), 01 March 2014.
7. Tapera, J. & Gororo, R. (2013). An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Marketing Strategies Employed By Zimbabwean Insurance Companies for Creating Competitive Advantage. Research Journal of Social Science and Management. Volume 3, No.8 (2013), 01 December 2013.
8. Tapera, J. & Gororo, R. (2013). An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Formulation and Implementation of Marketing Strategies in the Insurance Industry. Research Journal of Social Science and Management. Volume 3, No.8 (2013), 01 December 2013.
9. Tapera, J. (2013). An Analysis of the Impact of Cultural Transfer on Organizational Performance in the Financial Services Sector (Bulawayo-based financial institutions). Research Journal of Social Science and Management, Volume 3, No.7 (2013), 01 November 2013.
10. Jingura, R. M., Kamusoko, R., Muzinda, A., Munikwa, S., Ndoorwi, H., & Tapera, J. (2018). A model for enhancing student engagement within the context of higher education quality assurance. Journal of Higher Education Management, 33(2), 127-135. (ISSN 2640-7515)
11. Tapera, J. (2013). Organization Culture and Performance in the Financial Services Sector (E-Book), ISBN: 978-981-07-8448-5, published by TIJ Research Publications PTE. LTD., Singapore.

Conference Presentations

1. Tapera, J. and Kuipa P. K. (2016). Promoting quality assurance in Zimbabwean higher education institutions; concepts, systems and processes. Southern African Quality Assurance Network (SAQAN) 3rd Southern African Regional Quality Assurance in Higher Education Conference, Pretoria, South Africa, October 2016.
2. Tapera, J & Chivasa, S. (2015). Strategies for Sustainable Growth of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for Effective Contribution towards Improved Livelihoods and National Economic Growth and Development. (Presented at the University of Botswana 3rd 2015 Biennial International Conference of Business Innovation and Growth – 8th-10 July 2015 and Published in the Conference Proceedings Publication;ISBN:978-99968-0-342-0)
3. Tapera, J (2016). African Industrial Revolution; Strategies for Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development in African Countries; the Zimbabwean Case. (Presented at the Chinhoyi University of Technology 2015 International Research Conference on Research, Technology and Innovation for Development in Africa – 20-21 July 2015) Published in the International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, April 2016 issue.
4. Tapera, J. (2015). Exploring Area of Business Linkages between SMEs and Microfinance Sector – Zimbabwe Association of Microfinance Institutions (ZAMFI), Microfinance Public Lecture, Matabeleland North Region, Hwange – 20 November 2015.

Peer Reviewer: Academic Journals

1. Emerald Publishing – Reviewed Manuscript. Article Title “The Internal Governance Model in Chinese Universities” (November 2018)
2. Emerald Publishing – Reviewed Manuscript. Article Title “Examining timely graduation rates of undergraduate students” May 2018)
3. International Journal of Asian Social Science (IJASS) - Reviewed Manuscript: Article Title. “The Relation between Organizational Behavior and Converging Technologies.” Ref. No.: 1677/IJASS/14
4. International Journal of Business and Social Science- Reviewed Manuscript: Article Title. “An Assessment of Political Risk Management Strategies by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) Operating In Zimbabwe.” Ref. Volume 6, No. 3, March 2015
5. International Journal of Asian Social Science (IJASS) - Reviewed Manuscript: Article Title. “An Endless Struggle of the Malaysian Indian Community: A Qualitative Study in Hill Rise Estate, Malaysia.” Ref. No.: 2018/IJASS/15

Contribution to National and Institutional Policy Formulation and Review

1. Current member of a committee reviewing the Zimbabwe School of Mines Examinations Policy.
2. Participated in a Consultative Workshop on National Quality Policy facilitated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in March 2019 (Bulawayo)
3. Participated in a Consultative Workshop on National Policy on Monitoring & Evaluation of Government Programmes and Projects facilitated by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) in August 2014.
4. Participated in the review of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy – December 2015.
5. Participated in the Stakeholder Consultation Conference on the Proposed Bill for Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOS) hosted by the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development in March 2016.
6. Developed the Lupane State University Quality Assurance Policy significantly contributed to various other institutional policies.