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Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
Government’s thrust of promoting innovation and technical skills among students under the heritage-based Education 5.0 is already bearing fruit with institutions of higher learning exhibiting their products at the inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair which began at the Harare International Conference Centre yesterday.
The Fair has been organised by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and is expected to be officially opened by President Mnangagwa today.
Institutions of higher and tertiary education are taking part through exhibitions of various products and innovations by the students as part of Government’s thrust of producing graduates that are geared towards production.
The Government, under the Second Republic, has adopted Education 5.0 to instil practical knowledge in students which has resulted in the establishment of innovation hubs at various universities and colleges
The products being exhibited include, computer software that can be used for e-learning, agriculture and mining, drones, processed foods and goods produced from re-cycled materials among others.
Students and officials that spoke to the Herald yesterday hailed President Mnangagwa for revolutionarising the country’s education system through prioritising production and innovation.
Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency principal scientist Victor Mukungunugwa who was part of the scientists that launched Zimbabwe’s first satellite, Zim-Sat-1 last year in conjunction with Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, said they would showcase various applications and software that could assist Government in decision making.
“We have our flagship project which is the Zim-Sat 1 which was launched as a collaboration between ZINGSA and Kyushu Institute of Technology in November last year. We are also showcasing aerial mapping, we have done the entire country especially wetlands.
“We have also done an application for foot and mouth detection which is a mobile application that farmers can use to detect the disease. We are not only into space but also the ground-based technologies. I think the Government is doing well (in promoting science and technology) because now Zimbabwe is now on the Space fraternity. Most people will not understand these things but they are data gathering tools which will facilitate strategic decision-making,” he said.
He said with technologies like satellite or drone technologies and aerial mapping the country can now update its maps and also be able to make harvest estimations of agricultural produce.
A student at Mutare Teachers College, Obert Munjoma, showcased the Digital Braille Application Software that he developed in conjunction with the institution’s Inclusive Education Innovation Hub for use by students with visual impairments.
“It allows us to have an inclusive education system whereby we don’t have multiple teachers in one class but one teacher who can attend to all students. It can translate print to braille and vice versa, you can also scan a braille to print using the same system,” he said.
Chiedza Mujati, a University of Zimbabwe Geomatics Engineering student and Innovation Hub intern thanked Government for coming with the curriculum that promotes science and innovation.
“The Government’s thrust is commendable as it allows us to think outside the box and come with solutions to our problems,” she said.
“Recently we had Covid 19 which caused a down-turn in the tourism industry and we had to devise mechanisms to adapt to those situations which is why we came up with virtual tourism application which allows us to view tourism sites in the comfort of our homes or offices. There are also audio guided tours which can be booked online.
“In order to come up with these we also incorporate drone technologies which allows an aerial view of the places. We also have our 360-degree tours which will also use the virtual reality headsets which gives you a feel like you are actually immersed in a virtual dimension,” she said.
The UZ has also developed a metal detector for mineral exploration and a remote-controlled blaster for those in the mining and construction industries.
A specialist in Research and Innovation Directorate at the UZ, Dr Ancilla Nhamo said they had registered 21 start-up companies for the products being produced by their students.
“Currently we have 21 start-ups from our students, what we do is that if an innovator comes up with a product, we register a start-up for them, whether they are going to produce the product themselves or they are going to partner with other organisations,” she said, adding that they had partnered with the GMB for the distribution of products from traditional grains.
Mupfure Industrial Training College student, Yvette Masocha, thanked Government for initiating industrial training and called for more support to establish their own companies once they complete their studies.
“We thank Government for the training we are receiving and would more support to continue producing after we have finished our studies,” she said.
Students at the Mupfure stand were exhibiting various industrial protective equipment they are producing.
Tafadzwa Marimbicha, a Computer Engineering student said they had produced various IT applications at the institution’s Innovation Hub.
“We have developed various IT systems like the virtual chemistry laboratory, the business manager for small and medium enterprises, smart farming, smart security system (or Hatirare system) and the water telemetre that can be used by councils for water billing,” he said.
Mrs Semukeliso Gono, the director of marketing, communications and public relations said the current curriculum was important in producing students that are productive.
“The importance of Education 5.0 is that it is emphasising the application of that knowledge into production of goods and services.
“In the past we would have a student graduating in engineering but when they go to industry they would need to be trained for another year to be productive.
“So Education 5.0 is now emphasising that there is theory and practice and that you will be able to generate an income because gone are the days when Government would give us money to run universities, now they are saying generate that income and pay marketable rates to your professors,” she said.
Last week the ministry honoured 105 students who excelled at various local, regional and international competitions, in the inaugural Presidential Students Awards, a brainchild of President Mnangagwa.
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