Inspired by its agenda to push the frontiers of research through the heritage-based Education 5.0 blueprint, Midlands State University joined forces with Beat Afrika Academy by signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on the 11th of July 2023 at the Gweru Main Campus.
In her welcome remarks, delivered by the Acting Deputy Dean-Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Marambanyika, Pro-Vice Chancellor-Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, Professor Grace Mugumbate, commented that MSU is delighted to partner with Beat Afrika Academy given the two institutions’ shared vision of creating knowledge that transforms society, ultimately, dovetailing with the national agenda for a knowledge-driven upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“MSU’s Faculty of Social Sciences commits itself to working closely with Beat Afrika Academy to build human capital that is sensitive to the local and global productive market needs.
“It is within this context that Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 philosophy aspires to satify the goals and objectives of the National Development Strategy 1 and Vision 2030 of attaining an upper-middle-income society,” said Dr. Marambanyika.
Chairperson of BEAT Afrika Academy, Professor M. Rukuni indicated that this Memorandum of Agreement will benefit the Academy greatly since MSU is known as a pacesetter through its longstanding reputation as a committed Education 5.0 implementer.
Remarked Professor Rukuni, “We are so happy for this occasion; we were always looking forward to this kind of partnership.
“For us, it’s a very natural partnership because we always knew that Midlands State University has a reputation and the vision of transformative education that we always aspire to have”.
He further stated that the partnership is set to benefit both institutions through information transfer, knowledge co-creation, training, monitoring, evaluation and collaborative research with focus on practical applications.
The Memorandum of Agreement between MSU and Beat Afrika Academy will be focused on three main areas: short courses, workshops for sub-national governmental levels and interdisciplinary research.
University Registrar-Mr. T. Zishiri signed the agreement on behalf of Midlands State University while Professor Rukuni of Beat Afrika Academy signed on behalf of Beat Afrika Academy.
Centre for Public Policy and Devolution, Coordinator-Mrs. V. Makanza highlighted that Beat Afrika Academy’s choice of Midlands State University as a partner indicates that the University is a higher learning institution of first choice for all.
Scooping various local, national and regional awards, Midlands State University has increasingly become synonymous with efficient and results-driven Education 5.0 implementation.