adminMichael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
THERE is need to strengthen synergies between industry and the academia to champion the Zimbabwe higher education 5.0 philosophy and help attain a middle income economy by 2030, Kwekwe Polytechnic principal Mr Evans Musara has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Mr Fortune Gora during the college’s symposium, Mr Musara said through synergies, the country can be transformed from a consumptive economy to a productive one.
“The symposium is an important platform for interaction between the polytechnic and industry and an exchange of ideas, thereby harmonising and strengthening the relationship between skills training providers and industry in an endeavour to close the skills gap,” he said.
Mr Musara said his college created synergies with local companies and local authorities that will see its students developing new products and adopt innovative processes.
He said the move has since seen local companies taking in about 70 percent of the college’s students on industrial attachment.
The college and Kwekwe City Council last year struck a deal in which the college students are supposed to erect solar powered robots and street lights in the town.
Addressing the same gathering, guest speaker, African Chrome Fields (ACF) deputy chief executive Mr Leon Richardson, said his company has more than 40 attachés from Kwekwe Polytechnic College as a result of the partnership.
Mr Richardson emphasised the need for a strong relationship between industry and polytechnics.
“A close knit, synergistic and mutually beneficial relationship between industry and the polytechnic is called for,” he said. “Your visions of supporting and developing ideas and skills are needed in the workplace to help companies develop new products and techniques.
“The Philosophy 5.0 by Government, promotes innovation and industrialisation, a philosophy that supports heritage based development.”
During the symposium, students from various divisions showcased their innovations which ranged from gold processing machines, age reducing soaps, multi-purpose candle and water distilling machines, among other innovations.
Kwekwe Polytechnic College was given the mandate to offer degrees in heavy Engineering Technology in 2004.
The Bachelor of Technology Honours Degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering was established in February 2005 followed by the Bachelor of Technology Honours Degree in Electrical Power and Manufacturing Engineering in 2011.
Online Reporter