Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
AFRICA University has been hailed for embracing Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 model after seven start-up companies were established through the institution’s innovation ecosystem.
As a result of the start-up companies, it was also revealed that more than 20 students secured employment before graduating.
The achievements, announced during the university’s 32nd graduation ceremony held in Mutare on Saturday, were presented as evidence of the growing impact of an education system that prioritises innovation, industrialisation and commercialisation alongside teaching, research and community service.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Africa University Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Mageto said the institution was witnessing tangible results from its deliberate focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and practical learning.
“The Heritage-Based Education 5.0 framework has found a faithful home at Africa University. Through our Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Centre, we have witnessed the development of seven start-ups,” he said.
“We also have more than 20 students who secured employment before graduation. That is true evidence of what transformative education is all about.”
Professor Mageto said universities must move beyond producing graduates who simply seek employment and instead equip them with the skills and knowledge required to create businesses, generate jobs and develop solutions to societal challenges.
He said the institution’s innovation ecosystem was helping students transform classroom knowledge and research findings into practical products and services capable of improving lives and contributing to economic development.
“Today we celebrate students from across the continent who have completed programmes designed to transform communities and industries,” said Professor Mageto.
“We are committed to ensuring that education remains relevant to the needs of society and responsive to the demands of a rapidly changing world.”
The vice chancellor said the university’s focus on innovation was not limited to entrepreneurship alone, but extended to research, sustainability and technology-driven development.
The university’s innovation drive has also benefited from partnerships with local, regional and international organisations.
According to Prof Mageto, four student-led agricultural innovations developed through partnerships with development organisations are progressing from prototype stage to practical implementation, demonstrating the growing potential of university-driven innovation.
He said such achievements illustrate how higher education institutions can contribute directly to national and continental development through innovation and knowledge creation.
Speaking on behalf of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira, Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education chief executive officer Professor Peter Dzvimbo commended Africa University for producing graduates equipped to compete on the global stage.
He assured graduates that the qualifications they had earned compared favourably with those offered elsewhere in Africa and internationally.
“Your degrees compare favourably with qualifications offered in this country, elsewhere on the African continent and beyond. You should be confident in the quality of the education that you have received,” said Professor Dzvimbo.
He said Africa University’s programmes were particularly significant because they were rooted in African realities and designed to address challenges facing the continent.
“The knowledge that you acquired here was meant to place you at the centre of Africa’s development. Whether you remain in Zimbabwe or return to your respective countries, you have a responsibility to contribute to the growth and development of our continent,” he said.
Professor Dzvimbo urged graduates to embrace continuous learning and adaptability, saying these qualities would determine success in an increasingly dynamic world.
“The true mark of an educated person is the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn. Those are the qualities that will allow you to remain relevant and effective wherever you go,” he said.
He challenged graduates to move away from the traditional mindset of searching for employment and instead focus on creating opportunities for others.
