Government Applauds Tertiary Institutions for Advancing Education 5.0

Ministry of Higher And Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science And Technology Development Logo

Reporter

Government has hailed tertiary institutions for their proactive implementation of Education 5.0, underscoring its transformative impact on the nation through various innovative initiatives.

During an induction workshop held in Kadoma yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Ambassador Fredrick Shava emphasised the immense potential of young innovators at universities and colleges.

“If fully supported, young people in universities and colleges can be very innovative,” he said.

University Innovation and COVID-19 Response

Over the past six years, universities have made significant contributions to the nation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our universities started producing PPE for COVID-19, which saved the nation nearly US$300 million in foreign currency. This is just one example of the innovative spirit thriving within these institutions,” said Minister Shava.

Students have also been actively involved in producing medical oxygen, nitrogen, and acetylene at Feruka, and semen for artificial insemination and medicinal feed at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT). Other innovations include marula wine, baobab and masawu juices, number plate manufacturing at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), and the pathology lab at Midlands State University (MSU).

Support Structures and Innovation Hubs

Minister Shava noted that numerous student-developed software solutions are in use across industry, commerce, and Government. To reinforce this innovation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has allocated resources to construct innovation hubs and industrial parks at state universities. These projects are implemented using internal university expertise, reducing costs by almost 50 percent.

“Students with good ideas are given the opportunity to work with support from academics and industry specialists until they produce a prototype that can be taken to the industrial park to produce a startup company,” said Shava.

He also urged institutions to explore third-stream income from their projects to enhance financial sustainability and improve their ability to attract and retain top academic talent.

Parliamentary and Institutional Support

Supporting this vision, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chair on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Dr. Thokozani Khupe, acknowledged the remarkable strides made.

“We have witnessed over 16 new industries within universities and polytechnics, a testament to transitioning from academic institutions to engines of innovation and economic activity,” she said.

Dr. Khupe praised the success of innovation hubs and the emergence of patents, startups, and employment in sectors such as agriculture, health, and renewable energy. She emphasized the importance of equipping institutions to effectively engage with funding structures, particularly ZIMDEF.

“As a Portfolio Committee, we are committed to ensuring that every dollar allocated to ZIMDEF is used efficiently in a transparent manner aligned with national policies,” she added.

ZIMDEF CEO Eng. Sebastine Marume highlighted their role in promoting human capital development by funding both private and public institutions, including ZIMCHE (universities) and HEXCO (polytechnic colleges).

“We support all institutions... to maintain educational quality,” he said.

Collective Commitment to a Knowledge-Driven Economy

The call to continue supporting Education 5.0 reflects a national commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development through strategic partnerships, capacity-building, and resource allocation in the higher education sector.