Debra Matabvu
Herald Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday capped 640 Harare Institute of Technology graduates, with the university saying it will continue providing knowledge and skills that offer solutions to the country’s socio-economic needs.
A total of 518 students obtained their first degrees while 122 others were taking postgraduate studies. Of those who graduated yesterday, 106 were from programmes introduced to advance Zimbabwe’s modernisation and industrialisation.
The 13 inaugural programmes included Master of Technology degrees in Telecommunications and Wireless Networks, Electronic Commerce, Data Science and Analytics, Medical Ultrasound, Industrial Biotechnology and Food Processing.
President Mnangagwa also toured three major projects at the institution: The lithium battery production plant, the Future Mobility (Urban Mass Transportation System) Tram, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Case Management System.
In his keynote address, HIT Vice Chancellor Professor Quinton Kanhukamwe said their projects contribute to the country’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda. “These innovations are not abstract theories, they are solutions that will respond to the needs of Zimbabwean communities, industries and families,” he said.
“Your Excellency and Chancellor, this year your university continued with its annual tradition of holding its Technovation Expo under the theme, Designing the Future, celebrating 20 years of commercialisation of research, development and innovation outputs for Zimbabwe’s modernisation and industrialisation.
“The Expo demonstrated your university’s dedication to technological innovation, development and commercialisation and had numerous displays showing cutting-edge research, development and innovation outputs that demonstrate the prowess of how Education 5.0 has been assimilated across our curriculum.”
Prof Kanhukamwe also said the university had incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics into its curriculum to close the AI gap in communities across the country. He added that HIT is re-aligning its strategic plan with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS).
“The artificial intelligence revolution, unlike the other revolutions before it, is ubiquitous as it permeates every facet of human society,” he said.
“Its impact is not selective on whether you are a prophet, medical doctor, engineer or professor. The artificial intelligence industry is set to contribute US$19,9 trillion as cumulative global economic impact by 2030.
“Your Excellency and Chancellor, joining the artificial intelligence race at this point is no longer optional but compulsory, as research has indicated that artificial intelligence is now widening economic inequalities among nations.”
Prof Kanhukamwe added that Zimbabwe has to come to grips with the tectonic forces of artificial intelligence, containing its risks and harnessing its power for good.
“As I put this matter to rest, Your Excellency and Chancellor, we are aware of the imminent launch of the National Development Strategy 2 by the close of the year, and we would like to assure you that we are ready and committed to drive the attainment of Vision 2030 ahead of time. We will be realigning our new strategic plan to the NDS2, putting down what we envisage the future to look like,” he said.
Prof Kanhukamwe also outlined the different projects being implemented as part of efforts to contribute to Zimbabwe’s innovation and technology agenda.
He said this year, the university filed with the Intellectual Property offices five utility models, 10 industrial designs, seven trademarks and 648 software copyrights.
HIT also received certificates of excellence from peer-reviewed international journals, publishers and commendations for its unique proficiency and competency-driven curriculum.
Prof Kanhukamwe further highlighted that the university had created an oxygen-aluminium battery and telepresence robots to support healthcare delivery in underserved areas.
“The oxygen-aluminium battery created by the Advanced Materials Team provides a non-toxic, recyclable and affordable option to other available alternative batteries,” he said.
“This breakthrough positions us as a potential contributor to the global shift towards green energy. Our scientists have also developed artificial intelligence models to detect keratitis from corneal images, offering hope for early detection as well as prevention of blindness.
“Others have created telepresence robots to support healthcare delivery in underserved areas. In agriculture, Your Excellency and Chancellor, our teams are utilising artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to enhance crop productivity and combat food fraud, including the adulteration of soils. Our allied health sciences researchers are also exploring genomic biomarkers for hypertension and diabetes, which will lead to locally tailored treatments.”
With regard to the lithium battery project, Prof Kanhukamwe said HIT planned to scale up production to 90 units a day, resulting in an annual capacity of 18 000 units by 2026 for the Zimbabwean and regional markets.
Among the graduates, six were awarded the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award of US$500 cash prize for best students in each faculty.
Turning to the Urban Mass Transportation System, he said the university is producing 80 to 120-seater tram carriages with the goal of reaching a scaled annual output of 100 units by next year.
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