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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) is engaging industry players seeking to forge linkages aimed at exposing graduates to what to expect when they complete their studies. University spokesperson Anderson Chipatiso said partnerships between universities and companies were strategic towards creating a platform for co-operation in developing the industry in the areas of research and preparing students for life after college.

He said industry plays a great role in the existence of institutions of higher learning in the provision of work-related learning to graduates on attachments and employment after training.

Chipatiso said companies could play a role in providing students with bursaries and helping in infrastructure development of the university.

He said the university and industry recently held a business symposium in which a number of companies and parastatals were identified for partnerships.

Chipatiso said such partnerships were ideal towards the fulfilment of the country’s goals under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).

Zim-Asset is a government blueprint focused on developing the economy through four clusters – infrastructure development, food security and nutrition, value addition and beneficiation and social services and poverty eradication.

Chipatiso said partnerships between universities and industry would contribute immensely to the economic growth of Masvingo province and beyond.

“We had a business symposium on the official opening day where we had a number of captains of industry and commerce. The idea behind all this is to forge some strategic linkages with industries so that our students are exposed to the work demands in preparation for life after university,” said Chipatiso.

“We hope this relationship will go a long way in our quest to contribute to the economy and be able to address the aspirations of Zim-Asset, which we’ve streamlined in all our programmes.

“We expect industry to provide our students, due for internship with vacancies for work-related learning, scholarships or even employment after completion.”