CommuTalk Reporter
Local state universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a visiting Russian delegation, setting them up to collaborate in areas such as research, technology and innovation skills.
State Universities represented were Midlands State University (MSU), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), Lupane State University (LSU), Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences and Gwanda State University (GSU).
In her welcome remarks, MSU Acting Vice Chancellor-Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation and Industrialization, Professor Grace Mugumbate expressed her contentment with the process.
She alluded that the MoU presented universities with an opportunity to grow and reach a major milestone in research, innovation and industrialization.
“As a University, we strive to be a leading innovative, entrepreneurial and technologically driven world-class university, we are therefore excited that today we have gathered here to witness a major milestone that is going to spare us to succeed in executing our mandate of research, innovation and industrialization,” Prof Mugumbate said.
Heading the Russian delegation, Chancellor of the Crimean Federal University Falaleev Andrei stated that they are ready to help in different areas including science, technology and implied research, in line with the country’s Education 5.0 initiatives.
“We are pleased to see how universities try to help the country to solve different tasks, so we are proud to be helpful and we are ready to help. The Russia-African Network University will be like a gate which will open opportunities for collaboration,” said Andrei.
After signing the MoU, the Russian delegates took a tour of MSU including the Innovation Hub, MSU National Pathology Research, Diagnostic Centre (MSUNPRDC) and Industrial Park as an overall appreciation of the University projects.