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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE’S ground-breaking Heritage Based Education 5.0 is making a significant contribution to the southern African region. The innovative educational model, adopted in 2018, integrates innovation and industrialisation into higher and tertiary education. With a focus on addressing human needs, the curriculum has successfully produced goods and services that benefit the region. A notable example is the country’s export of medical oxygen to Mozambique during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during United College of Education’s 56th graduation ceremony yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, who was representing his minister, Professor Amon Murwira, said the Government set 2024 as the year when Heritage Based Education 5.0 would start producing results to transform people’s lives.

A total of 632 students graduated at the institution’s ceremony, which ran under the theme: “Repositioning teacher education for a modernised economy through heritage-based education.” He said the Second Republic is impressed that the new higher and tertiary education system has started producing results that improve the lives of citizens, not just in Zimbabwe but in southern Africa.

“We said 2024 must be a year of impact where the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 design starts to bear fruit by producing goods and services through our higher and tertiary education institutions and entities. During his recent visit, H. E. President Nyusi of Mozambique thanked his Zimbabwean counterpart, His Excellency Dr E. D. Mnangagwa, for being a true friend in need when he provided Mozambique with medical oxygen during Covid-19. The medical oxygen from Verify Engineering was a product of His Excellency’s Heritage Education 5.0 vision,” said Professor Tagwira.

He said the recent commissioning of Holy-Cross Dam and the associated Agro-Innovation and Rural Industrialisation projects are proof that the country is producing a responsive education system. Professor Tagwira said the innovations at higher and tertiary institutions solidify the position that only Zimbabweans can develop their motherland.

“It is therefore important for institutions such as United College of Education to continue producing graduates who have both knowledge and hands-on skills, to drive the national agenda through innovation and industrialisation. A country is built by doers and not by spectators. Knowledge without application is of no use,” said Professor Tagwira.

“Heritage Based Education 5.0 is our means to achieve Vision 2030. The task of building our country falls upon us as citizens of this country. We cannot expect another nation or individuals to come and develop Zimbabwe for us, because Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo.”

UCE principal, Dr Adam Luthuli, said his institution is now involved in production in response to the dictates of Heritage Based Education 5.0, with the college introducing a launderette as well as agro projects. He said the college is running successful poultry and piggery projects.

“There are 4 500 broilers which I am glad to say have a ready market that includes the local community. In future, we hope to open a butchery in town to commercialise the business. In the layers business, we have 250 layers which are laying an average of 200-210 eggs per day,” said Dr Luthuli.

“We are proud to be egg suppliers to one of the biggest retailers in town. For those who slept in Bulawayo last night and had an egg for breakfast this morning, chances are they have had a UCE egg for breakfast.”
He said the college’s textile technology department is now actively producing college graduation gowns, tracksuits, sports shorts, and dust coats for the local market.

“We are also producing musical instruments that have been sold to schools and which we intend to sell countrywide. I am glad to report that the college now has its own brand of dishwashing liquid, which is however awaiting scientific certification by the National University of Science and Technology,” he said.

Dr Luthuli said the institution’s science and technology department has manufactured a cough syrup which is undergoing certification while constructing a food processor that converts kitchen leftovers to animal feed.

“They have also built a model water processing plant to purify water, which can also be used in rural communities. Our students have also ardently used indigenous knowledge systems to produce Moringa soup and cough mixture from local plants and herbs. These still await scientific testing. In the same vein, the lecturing staff college continues to participate in both national and international research conferences. The college will continue to empower and support its members in this endeavour,” said Dr Luthuli.

He said in line with the Heritage Based Education 5.0, whose thrust is to produce graduates who can create jobs, the college has supported nine of its former students to establish a school.

“The group was allocated a stand to construct a primary school in Pumula South, where the land for the project has already been secured from the Bulawayo City Council. For those who are familiar with Pumula South, our land is the open space commonly known as Emagetsini,” said Dr Luthuli.

He said in response to power outages, the UCE is in the process of installing solar panels on strategic buildings, including the administration block, library, kitchen, and computer laboratory. – @nqotshili.