HARARE, Zimbabwe – 14 March 2026 – Midlands State University (MSU) convened a public lecture, open to all and held under the theme “Innovation and Industrialisation in the context of Heritage 5.0,” examining how the nation’s higher education model can serve as an engine for industrial growth by aligning academic output with the country’s developmental goals.
Held at the MSU School of Social Work in Harare, the event drew a diverse and distinguished audience, including three staff members from the Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU): Colonel W. Mupindu, Colonel E. Moyo, and Colonel T.P. Kagona.
In his opening remarks, Harare Campus Director, Dr. T. Mashingaidze, emphasised the unique role public lectures play in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and societal needs, highlighting the importance of the Heritage 5.0 model for Zimbabwe’s future trajectory.
“Public lectures at institutions of higher learning make the public engage in discourse, deliberating on real issues,” Dr. Mashingaidze said.
Dr. S.S. Mashingaidze, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education, provided a strategic overview, linking current educational reforms to the broader economic vision.
“As we transition from National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the message is clear: education must play a central role in driving industrial development, value creation, and national productivity,” Dr. S.S. Mashingaidze stated.
The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. A. Moyo, reflected on the transformative power of learning, referencing the ongoing commemorations of Women’s Month, positing that educational empowerment is a cornerstone of national progress.
“Education is the key to emancipation for women and the development of the nation,” Dr. Moyo remarked.
Delivering the keynote address, guest speaker, Dr. K. Vere, CEO and Founder of the Institute of Entrepreneurship of Zimbabwe, gave a breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between learning and economic might, stressing the three gears that drive development: technology, innovation, and industry, with education serving as the connective tissue between these elements.
“When innovation and industry meet in education, nations rise,” Dr. Vere asserted.
Dr. Vere donated eight copies of a book titled RESEARCH MADE EASY: An Afrocentric Approach for Students and Supervisors of Academic Research, edited by Christopher Zishiri, Wonder Muchabaiwa, and Munyaradzi Mawere, all lecturers within the MSU Faculty of Education.
The public lecture underscored MSU’s commitment to national development through the strategic implementation of the Heritage 5.0 model, which seeks to transform academic discourse into tangible solutions for industrialisation and economic transformation.