The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Development, Professor Amon Murwira has called on universities to focus on research that will help to turnaround the country’s economic fortunes.
Speaking during his inaugural visit to Midlands State University, on Friday the 12th of January 2018, Professor Murwira said, universities should not be fixated with competing against each other, but should instead focus their efforts on collaborate research that responds to the challenges faced by the country.
‘What we are saying is that our universities themselves have to collaborate instead of using a competition model’, said Professor Murwira.
The Minister also called on universities, to embrace a blue ocean strategic approach to research and reaffirmed his ministry’s support for research and innovation that has national significance.
In his brief with the Minister, Midlands State University, Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor V N Muzvidziwa reiterated the University’s commitment to research and informed the Minister of the University’s current and future plans to ensure that the University’s research output contributes to economic development and nation building.
On the sidelines of his familiarization visit, Professor Murwira also met with his counterpart from the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi, who was the guest of honour at the National Constitution Translation Committee (NCTC) Standardisation Workshop, also hosted by Midlands State University on the same day. The two Ministers briefly discussed the importance of intellectual property law as well as the collaborative role being undertaken by six universities in translating the national constitution into various minority languages.
Professor Murwira concluded his visit to MSU, with a tour of the University’s grand Chapel and a new Office Block, which were both recently completed, as well as model hostels that are near completion at the University’s Graduate School of Business Leadership and Faculty of Law and Faculty of Commerce Campus. In his parting remarks, Professor Murwira commended the University for the great strides it has made in the development of infrastructure.
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