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Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Olivia Muchena (centre) flanked by her deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa (left) and Dr Dzingai Mutumbuka address delegates during the higher and tertiary education conference in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Innocent Makawa

Senior Reporter
Tertiary institutions should refocus their mandate in line with modern technologies if the country is to achieve sustainable socio-economic development, academics have said.
In presentations at a two-day conference on Higher and Tertiary Education in Zimbabwe — running under the theme, “Empowered Human Capital for Science and Technology led Socio-Economic Development: The Role of Higher and tertiary Education” — Zimbabwe Council for Higher and Tertiary Education chief executive Professor Emmanuel Ngara said tertiary institutions should contribute to development.

“Each institution should be aware of its environment, but more importantly each institution must look at its curriculum where it is in line with Government’s initiative of transforming the country’s economy,” he said.

Prof Ngara called for a national plan to help learning institutions contribute to nation development.
Prof Christopher Chetsanga said Government should introduce a science and technology levy for training of scientists. He said Zimbabwe must prioritise industrialisation as a prerequisite for development.

University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Prof Levi Nyagura, his Great Zimbabwe University counterpart Prof Rungano Zvobgo and Harare Institute of Technology Acting Vice Chancellor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe echoed the same sentiments in their presentations.

Endorsing the cademics’ position, Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Dr Olivia Muchena said: “There is lack of relevance and synchronisation between university education and industry.”

Dr Muchena said the conference had been convened to review the policy on education and training.