Online Reporter
Freedom Mupanedemo [email protected]
THE (MSU) has reinforced its research and innovation focus through a strategic partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The collaboration aims to enable the university to produce research that directly supports Zimbabwe’s national development priorities, while also expanding its international partnerships.
MSU and the UNDP on Wednesday held a National Steering Committee meeting, which is a high-level engagement to reaffirm the partnership.
The meeting focused on aligning expectations around grant delivery, research excellence, and innovation as the collaboration moves into the implementation phase.
The partnership further cements MSU’s reputation as a research-intensive institution whose strategic collaborations continue to generate knowledge, innovation, and practical solutions that contribute to Zimbabwe’s development.
MSU acting executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Thomas Marambanyika, said the university is fully prepared to deliver on the grant’s objectives and views the initiative as the foundation of a long-term partnership built on quality research and innovation.
“MSU is prepared to deliver quality outputs across all the key deliverables of the grant. This marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, and we are grateful for the confidence placed in the university through this grant,” he said.
Prof Marambanyika said that collaboration reflects the university’s commitment to Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which places research, innovation, and industrialisation at the centre of producing solutions that respond to national and global challenges.
Executive director for the Research and Innovation Division, Professor Gift Mehlana, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to responsible grant management that advances Zimbabwe’s research and innovation agenda whilst ensuring the successful delivery of the funded projects.
National Steering Committee chairperson, Dr Langton Mabhanga, emphasised that stronger inter-institutional partnerships are essential for maximising research impact and promoting knowledge sharing across Zimbabwe’s research ecosystem.
UNDP coordinator Ms Tsitsi Utaunashe expressed confidence in Midlands State University’s capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes and said the funded projects are expected to demonstrate their impact at the September conference.
“We look forward to seeing the outputs from the funded projects being showcased at the conference in September. We’re confident this partnership will produce quality outputs that create value at the local level,” she said.
