Story by Wellington Makonese
ZIMBABWE and Japan are continuing to strengthen their bilateral relations, with the Japan Overseas Volunteer Programme playing a crucial role in skills transfer at various higher education institutions in Zimbabwe.
The operationalisation of these agreements has resulted in significant success, facilitating sustainable skills development across numerous sectors, with experts from Japan being deployed to key institutions.
A visit to institutions like Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare Polytechnic, and Mutare Teachers College shed light on the work of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in promoting skills transfer in fields such as business administration, tourism, and sports.
“These guys are coming from a country that has high industrialisation, the business side and commercialisation, so there is a possibility of business expansion with their expertise,” Mutare Teachers College Principal, Mr Abson Mutubuki, said.
“The programme is critical to our students for high-level exposure from these experts. It has been critical as well in cultural exchange. It links with heritage education in pushing innovation and industry,” Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences Registrar, Dr Kudzayiishe Mudzingwa stated.
The initiative, which has brought in over 500 Japanese experts, is poised to diversify and strengthen skills development.
“We are expanding the number of volunteers who are supporting the business sector, working with the innovation hubs in the university or college. So far, we have had over 560 volunteers and we are exploring more areas. We both benefit and learn from this,” JICA Zimbabwe’s Resident Representative Mr Shigeki Furuta noted.
The impact of the programme is also being felt.
Since 1989, Zimbabwe and Japan have been collaborating through JICA’s Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Programme, covering vital areas such as education, agriculture, tourism, information and communication technology and sport.
