Story by Tamuka Charakupa
INNOVATION and practical learning took centre stage at Mupfure Industrial Technical College in Chegutu last Friday, as 296 graduands were capped during the institution’s 35th graduation ceremony, a celebration of the transformative power of Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 model.
The event underscored the college’s strong commitment to applied learning, with successful ventures in piggery, fisheries, horticulture, and manufacturing showcasing the tangible outcomes of Education 5.0, a system built on teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialisation.
Mupfure Industrial Technical College continues to shine as a model institution advancing technical and vocational training through vibrant, income-generating projects that contribute to the national vision of innovation-led industrial growth.
“As students, we’re proud that what we learn here does not just stay in books; we apply it in real projects like welding and horticulture that can sustain us even after college,” a student said.
“The training we are getting is preparing us to be employers and innovators. From metal fabrication to piggery management, our dream is to expand these skills and contribute to Zimbabwe’s industrial growth,” a graduate said.
The college is also running successful manufacturing ventures, a clear demonstration of the impact of hands-on education in transforming communities and equipping students with life-changing skills.
These initiatives dovetail with the government’s thrust on innovation and industrialisation under the heritage-based Education 5.0 model, which emphasises teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialisation.
“Our focus is on producing graduates who can think critically and create employment rather than seek it. These enterprises sustain the college and give students a chance to put their knowledge into practice,” Acting Principal, Mupfure Industrial Training Centre, Mr Thomas Laison said.
“Heritage-Based Education 5.0 is a game-changer in shaping the future of our beloved nation. It is the cornerstone of human capital development and the driving force behind the production of goods and services in our Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions,” Deputy Minister, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda said.
“This model emphasises homegrown solutions using locally available resources, dovetailing with His Excellency, the President of the second Republic, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s clarion call: ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”, “Ilizwe liyakwa ngabanikazi balo.
“Higher and tertiary Education Institutions are becoming hubs of innovation, with students developing groundbreaking solutions through artefacts that speak directly to national challenges.
The institution, which falls under the Zimbabwe Foundation for Education with Production, ZIMFEP, trust continues to play a critical role in driving the national agenda of self-reliance, industrialisation, and empowerment of the youth.
