Innovation hubs pay off

GOVERNMENT’S move to reconfigure the higher and tertiary education system through innovation hubs has provided students with a platform to create high-tech business enterprises expected to solve economic challenges facing the country, a top Government official has said.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said nations at large looked up to their institutions of higher learning for solutions, and locally solutions appear to be easy with the establishment of innovation hubs.

In his article, “Re-imagining education in the Second Republic” published on Saturday, Mr Mangwana cited Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), which came up with the “touch and go” bus fare system.

This is a cashless way of transacting on the Zupco buses which is similar to London’s Oyster Card System where the commuter is issued with a smart card into which money can be loaded.

“There is no role for the conductor in as far as handling cash is concerned,” said Mr Mangwana.

“This is a great example of our educational system providing solutions to our problems and a service to our needs.

“This is what the Second Republic is all about; ensuring that education leads to industrialisation and context-related solutions.”

Mr Mangwana said the inventions were not a result of a fluke or some miracle from somewhere, but a result of a meticulous, well-thought-through deliberate policy.

HIT, he said, also came up with the National Fuel Monitoring and Management System (Matsimba), which monitors fuel volumes at fuel depots and at service stations, as well as tankers that are distributing the product countrywide.

This system is being piloted by the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED).

“This exemplifies how the Government has established a link between our national needs and our institutions of higher learning,” said Mr Mangwana.

“So this vision by President Mnangagwa is not a myth, but it is already providing solutions.

“It’s already producing goods and services. Those who may not appreciate the vision of our President now will leave the burden of gratitude on the next generation.”

Mr Mangwana said with Higher and Tertiary Education 5.0 where innovation and industrialisation are added to the other three key pillars of education, the expectation is not for graduates to play street football adorned in ceremonial graduation regalia.

“But it is for them now to leave institutions of higher learning as inventors, creators and innovators,” he said.

“They should not just be assemblers, repairers or installers. Israel is where it is today in technological terms being driven by start-ups. Zimbabwe, through this vision, is on its way there.

“To achieve all this, Zimbabwe needs strong educational programmes, with competent educators and proper physical and financial infrastructures.”

Mr Mangwana said Government had already begun working on these issues through the harmonisation and standardisation of the National Qualifications Framework Programme.

At least six science parks/innovation hubs have been established at State universities including at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), HIT, Midlands State University (MSU), Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

This model has worked in rapidly industrialising countries such as South Korea, China, Malaysia and Brazil.