Harare Polytechnic students depart for China
SAMANTHA MADE AND ROBIN PHIRI
Thirty-two students from Harare Polytechnic College are set to depart for China this week to study mechatronics engineering at Ningbo Polytechnic under the Applied Talent Joint Teaching Programme (ATJTP).
The students will spend at least 18 months in China, marking the third group from Harare Polytechnic to receive scholarships for this multidisciplinary field—combining mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering—since 2023.
Speaking at a send-off ceremony at Harare Polytechnic on Thursday, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Development, Frederick Shava, in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister Simelisizwe Sibanda, underscored the significance of mechatronics engineering training.
He urged the students to focus not just on securing employment but on fostering innovation and creating job opportunities.
“You are not just students, you are ambassadors of Zimbabwe, entrusted with the responsibility of driving innovation, industrialization, and economic growth,” Shava told the students.
He highlighted that the students would undergo a dual-certification program, spending 12 months at Harare Polytechnic before completing 18 to 24 months at Ningbo Polytechnic. This initiative is designed to bridge the country’s critical skills gap and ensure graduates contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s industrialization agenda.
“With the departure of this latest cohort, the total number of students benefiting from this program will reach 90, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s commitment to skills development, job creation, and economic transformation,” Shava added.
He reiterated the significance of the ATJTP, a five-year collaborative initiative launched in 2022 between Harare Polytechnic and Ningbo Polytechnic, backed by the China-Africa TVET Cooperation Programs.
According to Shava, the strategic partnership aims to equip Zimbabwean students with cutting-edge training in mechatronics engineering, addressing the country’s critical skills deficit and driving industrial growth and transformation.
He noted that the program had already yielded positive outcomes, with 30 students who traveled to China in 2023 securing positions at Chinese enterprises operating in Zimbabwe.
Shava urged the students to seize the opportunity to acquire advanced skills and bring back expertise that will contribute to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, aligning with the country’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy, as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
“The five-year Memorandum of Agreement, signed on October 22, 2022, between Harare Polytechnic and Ningbo Polytechnic, enables Zimbabwean students to receive world-class training in mechatronics engineering, equipping them with the technical expertise required to drive industrial transformation,” he said.
Shava emphasized that mechatronics engineering is a key field for development, integrating mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering to create smart systems and precision technology.
It plays a crucial role in automation, robotics, and industrial manufacturing—critical areas for Zimbabwe’s modernization efforts under NDS1.
“Your training in China will expose you to cutting-edge technological advancements. I urge you to seize this opportunity with dedication, ensuring that you bring back expertise that will contribute to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030,” Shava told the students.
He encouraged the students to be bold, ambitious, and visionary as they embark on their educational journey.
He also assured them of the Ministry’s full support throughout their studies, providing necessary resources and guidance to ensure their success.
