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Sifelani Tsiko, Innovations Editor

Exhibitors at this year’s Presidential Innovation Fair started showcasing their outputs yesterday in line with the Government thrust to promote innovations anchored on the heritage-based Education 5.0 philosophy.

This annual showcase has brought together exhibitors from higher and tertiary education, innovation, science and technology institutions, Government and private institutions to exhibit innovations that are market-ready or are already at commercialisation stage and making significant interventions to meet the needs and challenges of Zimbabwean citizens.

The 2024 Presidential Innovation Fair seeks to build and reinforce a thriving innovation ecosystem through exhibitions and expos of current work from universities through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development institutions, Government and private institutions as well as private individuals based locally and in the Diaspora.

It sought to attract venture capital from both local and international sources and create an environment that permits ideas sharing, benchmarking and standardisation of innovation initiatives within the institutions.

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The ministry said the fair recognised innovation efforts within the Zimbabwean context.

Recognition is expected to be given to institutions and individuals leading in the innovation landscape through the Presidential Innovation Awards.

The awards seek to encourage high-level and quality innovation within the institutions and by individuals.

The Second Republic has been working round the clock to transform higher education in Zimbabwe to promote the production of qualified specialists and technicians, especially in the natural and applied sciences, engineering and technology, the medical and health sciences, and agriculture, among other critical sectors.

University of Zimbabwe Sociology department senior lecturer Dr Gwatiringa Javangwe (left) explains their innovation project during tertiary institutions innovations hub Expo in Harare yesterday.- Picture: Memory Mangombe

The Government largely sees tertiary education a key driver of economic growth and poverty reduction as it plays a critical role in training a qualified and adaptable labour force, generating new knowledge through basic and applied research and promoting use of new and emerging technologies.

President Mnangagwa has spearheaded the adoption of the Heritage-based Education 5.0 model in the country’s institutions of higher learning to help promote research and innovation in the utilisation of local resources.

Education 5.0 is based on teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation and it seeks to move the nation forward toward an innovation-led and knowledge-driven economy.

This new model, which was adopted four years ago, aims to produce graduates who solve national problems instead of just being job seekers.

In 2018, President Mnangagwa spelt out a clear vision for higher and tertiary education in which he noted that the human capital development sector was key to national development.

Education 5.0 learning model has started bearing fruit as most tertiary institutions have begun to articulate President Mnangagwa’s call for technological development to drive the country towards Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle income economy.

Midlands State University staff development fellow Hope Muchekeza (left) explains their innovation project during tertiary institutions innovations hub Expo in Harare yesterday.- Picture: Memory Mangombe

The President has repeatedly urged higher and tertiary education institutions to play a more significant role in national development and provide the essential knowledge and skills needed for production of quality goods and services for the industrialisation and modernisation of the nation.

“Given the shift from concentrating on the teaching of theory to practicals and entrepreneurship, our various institutions of higher and tertiary education should be torch bearers of innovation aimed at producing quality goods and services. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/llizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo,” he remarked at the inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair last year.

People gather at Sabino Caynon International college to see their innovation project of Quad bike during tertiary institutions innovations hub Expo in Harare yesterday.- Picture: Memory Mangombe