The Midlands State University Faculty of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering has been awarded a €140 000 grant by a London-based institution, Royal Academy of Engineering to support the pursuit of engineering research and teaching activities. The development is also expected to foster closer partnerships between academia and the industry.
The project, being run under the Higher Education Partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa (HEPSSA) supports engineering professionals, academics and students with study bursaries, business start-up funding, research projects, knowledge transfer partnerships, public engagement and prizes recognising significant feats of engineering.
In its awarding correspondence, the Royal Academy of Engineering commended the strong application tendered by the University, particularly lauding MSU’s research focus areas that seek to improve mining efficiency and promote value addition of minerals.
Commenting on the grant, the Executive Dean of Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering, Dr Antony Mamuse said, ‘The grant will go a long way in improving engineering education in Zimbabwe, a key driver of our economy. It will also help us to understand, beneficiate and optimize on the value derived from our minerals.’
To kick start the programme, the Faculty will be hosting an Inception Workshop on the 26th of February at the Gweru Main Campus where an operational framework will be laid out. The project operating under the Hub and Spoke model of the Royal Academy has various local and regional spoke partners feeding into it namely MIMOSA Mining Company, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), National University of Science and Technology, Stellenbosch University (South Africa), Cardiff University (UK) and University of Strathclyde (UK).
Expected to attend the workshop are partners from industry, academia and stakeholders who include government officials and mining executives around Zimbabwe. The workshop will be followed by a 2-day field excursion to key industrial mineral sites in Zimbabwe, and a 5-day short structural geology course for mining and mineral exploration.
The grant will support national aspirations of creating a middle income economy by 2030 which is hinged on research and evidence based-policies.