TelOne and the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the purpose of academic exchange and co-operation through the establishment of a degree programme in telecommunications engineering.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
The programme would be run at TelOne Centre for Learning.
The idea, according to TelOne human resources director Hopewell Zinyau, was mooted in April 2010 with three objectives of growing TelOne by the provision of more advanced telecommunications training, increase the company’s profitability and to provide more highly-qualified and skilled manpower to the information communication technologies (ICTs) sector.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, TelOne managing director Chipo Mtasa said Nust was a prime tertiary institution promoting science in Zimbabwe thus the decision to engage the university.
“We are excited to work with Nust and showcase this MoU as a trailblazing example of how the academia and business can leverage on each other to develop our country,” she said.
“We most certainly look forward to fully exploring the opportunities that this new relationship offers as our partnership develops.”
Mtasa said ICT had been identified as an enabler for all facets of the economy and as one of the pillars on which the economic blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset), was anchored on.
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“This course will contribute to the resource base needed for ZimAsset success. This will obviously have a trickledown effect, which will see Zimbabwean ICT engineers make an impact globally thus enhancing Zimbabwe’s profile and attract the much-needed investment for research and development and collaborations with universities,” she added.
She said the success of the partnership would depend on the ability to unite and continue to work as a team.
Nust vice-chancellor Lindela Ndlovu thanked TelOne for recognising his institution and urged it to continue availing more programmes for the development of Zimbabwe.
“This should be a continuous process, not event. We are very proud to be in partnership with TelOne solely because their brand and ours fit well,” he said.
Recently, the two institutions established a partnership to establish a framework for research collaboration activities in ICTs.
The collaborative agreements are aimed at utilising research papers produced by students and academic staff, which usually become redundant after grading.
