Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald 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.
Speaking at an induction workshop held in Kadoma on Tuesday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr 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.
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.
Students have also been actively involved in producing medical oxygen, nitrogen and acetylene at Feruka, as well as semen for artificial insemination and medicinal feed at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).
Additionally, they have developed marula wine, baobab and masawu juices, while also creating number plates at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and establishing a pathology lab at Midlands State University (MSU).
Minister Shava highlighted that numerous software solutions developed by students are currently in use across various sectors, including industry, commerce and government.
To bolster the efforts of Education 5.0, Minister Shava pointed out that President Mnangagwa has allocated resources for building innovation hubs and industrial parks at state universities.
Importantly, these projects utilise the expertise of internal staff and students rather than relying on external contractors, which has reduced costs by nearly 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 start a company,” he said.
This initiative not only fosters innovation but also encourages entrepreneurship among students.
Moreover, Minister Shava urged institutions to explore and leverage third-stream income from their projects to enhance their financial sustainability.
This will improve their capacity to attract and retain highly qualified personnel, vital for maintaining the quality of education.
Supporting this vision, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development chairperson Dr Thokhozani Khupe acknowledged the remarkable progress made in tertiary institutions.
“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 expressed her pride in the advancements made through innovation hubs across state universities, emphasising that these institutions are not only producers of solutions but also generators of patents, incubators of startups and creators of employment, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture, health and renewable energy.
She further stressed the importance of equipping institutions with the necessary tools to engage meaningfully with the funding mechanisms that underpin Education 5.0, including governance structures such as 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 stated.
ZIMDEF chief executive officer Eng Sebastine Marume highlighted their role in promoting human capital development in higher and tertiary institutions to maintain educational quality.
“We support all institutions, both private and Government. We provide funding for ZIMCHE, which supervises the universities, and also for HEXCO, which oversees polytechnic colleges,” he said.
This collaborative approach ensures that the quality of education remains high while fostering an environment conducive to innovation and growth.
The call to continue supporting Education 5.0 reflects a collective commitment to fostering innovation and economic development through strategic partnerships and resource allocation in higher education.
By investing in the capabilities of young innovators and encouraging collaboration across sectors, the nation can harness the full potential of its tertiary institutions to drive progress and create a brighter future.
