adminLungile Tshuma Business Correspondent
THE gap between the academia and industry is killing the country’s manufacturing sector as both parties are walking in different paths which is not ideal in finding solutions for the problems affecting companies, experts have said. Speaking at a breakfast meeting organised by the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, captains of industry and academics said industry was not benefiting from research findings that were being done at institutions of higher learning.
They said closing the gap will help in coming up with home grown solutions which will help in re-capacitating the ailing companies in the city and the country as large.
The meeting was meant to inform participants about Nust’s international conference on Manufacturing Processes, Systems and Operations Management in Victoria Falls on 23 and 24 March.
“We can say 90 percent of the research that has been done in the country is not relating to the industry or problems being faced by companies. There is no link with reality hence the research is of no use,” said Kango Products managing director Mr Ignatius Mavunga.
“Both industry and academia must work together to deal with challenges affecting industries in the country. Academics should come up with case studies that are local in nature which can then be used by companies as a model and by so doing we will be able to solve some of the problems that are in place.
“Industrialists should bring forward problems faced by companies and challenge academics to come up with solutions. Academics have the potential of coming up with ideas which can be used to reduce production costs and in turn lower prices.”
Another participant said the country was still behind in getting up to date research material or models influenced by academics.
He said most problems which are in place can be solved by locals but some solutions were shelved in most academic institutions.
“In some countries, researchers help the country or the industry in coming up with solutions. In some cases, researchers can go to an extent of being innovative and come up with machinery which is cost effective. We therefore have to develop a relationship based on trust so that what we share with you (academics) cannot be taken for public consumption,” said the participant.
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