HIT, Russian university in exchange programmes

Blessings Chidakwa

Herald Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN students are set to benefit from scholarships and exchange visits to Russia that will be accompanied by research collaborations following the signing of an agreement between the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN).

Through the partnership, there will also be production of cost-effective water purification chemicals that will save local authorities huge sums of money. A team of Russian experts is expected in the country this week to operationalise the agreement between HIT and RUDN.

HIT director of Environmental Management, Renewable Energy and Climate Change Research Centre (EMRECC) Dr Anthony Phiri said both Zimbabwe and Russia were set to benefit from knowledge transfer.

Dr Phiri said the Russian delegation, expected to arrive on April 13, will train 50 people on sustainable environmental management practices.

“RUDN will dispatch a team of experts this April to engage with their HIT counterparts in study programmes development, research, and short courses training. EMRECC has taken the initiative to prepare for the visitors and lay the ground for staff and student exchange programmes.

“The purpose of the visit is to operationalise an agreement signed in November 2023 in Moscow, which includes five students and five staff exchanges each year for five years, collaborative research, and collaboration in the hosting of conferences,” he said.

Dr Phiri said RUDN will also be providing scholarships for bachelor’s, masters’ and doctoral students in environmental engineering, chemical engineering and petrochemical engineering among others.

Early last year, a team of Russian academics including some from RUDN came to Zimbabwe to seek opportunities for collaborative activities with local universities.

HIT was engaged through Dr Phiri.