‘Use your skills to drive industrialisation’

Lovemore Kadzura-Mutare Bureau

THE Government has challenged graduates from Mutare Polytechnic to harness their technical skills and innovation to drive the country’s industrialisation, solve national development challenges and create jobs.

Of the 3 178 students who graduated at the institution’s 35th graduation ceremony last Friday, 2 034, or 64 percent, were from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Fredrick Shava, who was represented by his deputy, Simelisizwe Sibanda, said the graduates would be critical in driving value addition, beneficiation and innovation.

The graduation ceremony was held under the theme: “Empowering Heritage-Based Innovation and Rural Industrialisation for Inclusive National Transformation.”

“These are the men and women on whom our industrialisation agenda will ultimately be built,” said Dr Shava.

“STEM skills are the engine of value addition and beneficiation, enabling us to process our minerals, agricultural produce and natural resources here at home rather than export them raw.”

Dr Shava said technical graduates would also play a key role in developing infrastructure, expanding energy net-works, modernising irrigation systems and advancing digital solutions.

“STEM graduands turn heritage-based knowledge into commercialised products and ideas into enterprises that create jobs.

“As a nation, we are counting on this cohort to close the critical skills gap identified in the National Skills Audit and to make Zimbabwe globally competitive.

“I, therefore, urge the STEM graduands to see themselves as inventors, makers and problem solvers and I urge our industry to open their doors and partner with them,” he said.

Dr Shava said tertiary institutions were shifting from theoretical learning towards producing commercial solutions under the National Development Strategy 2 and Education 5.0.

“Our tertiary education institutions have since shifted from equipping to producing, from theory to commercialised products and from producing job-seekers to nurturing market-leading industrial champions who are keen to provide solutions to national challenges,” he said.

Mutare Polytechnic principal Ms Poniso Watema said the institution was also making progress in increasing female participation, with women accounting for 40 percent of its student population.

“In direct alignment with Education 5.0’s mandate to transform higher education into a hub for industrial solutions, we celebrate the steady progression of our flagship Bachelor of Technology in Construction Engineering degree, which has reached an enrolment of 85 students.

“An analysis of our current student body reveals that male students constitute 60 percent (2 847) while female students account for 40 percent (1 899). “While this provides a strong academic foundation, closing this gender gap remains a primary strategic priority,” said Ms Watema.

She said the institution had refurbished its main science laboratory and modernised its central library with improved security and circulation facilities.

The graduation underscores the Government’s drive to align tertiary education with industry needs and equip graduates with skills to support national development.

Source: ‘Use your skills to drive industrialisation’ – herald

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