The University of Zimbabwe has engaged ZimTrade to assist in developing an export-oriented plan that will increase its share of the regional market.
The motivation to explore opportunities of exports of higher education goods and services is outlined in the University’s strategic plan for the period 2019 to 2025.
The University’s Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnership and Industrialization, Professor Charles Mbohwa revealed plans to concretise engagements with ZimTrade through a Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed soon.
Speaking during an export awareness seminar held in the capital on 15 November 2019, Professor Mbohwa said the university has identified the opportunities that lie in higher education exports and the impact it will have on Zimbabwe economy.
“We would want to export our degree and other academic programmes, our plans to convert part of University Farm into an Agro Industrial Park are also at a very advanced stage and the Innovation Hub should see us developing some of the promising and service prototypes that should subsequently find their way to the Industrial Ark for development into finished procures and services ready for commercialization.”
Professor Mbohwa applauded the relationship with ZimTrade and called on the organization to play a role in re-igniting interest in Zimbabwean education abroad and seek markets that could make this opportunity a reality.
In the Exporters Breakfast meeting held earlier this year ZimTrade committed to planning programmes and trainings that are more inclusive to the youth to ensure they are “export aware” and play a role in energizing Zimbabwe’s exports.
Exports of higher education goods and services are not a new phenomenon and have been successful in many developed countries.
In Australia, for example, the educational market has grown significantly to attract more international students.
In 2018 Australia’s education exports were recorded as their third largest export earner.
Zimbabwe has a great potential for growth in the services sector and the education sector could be a low hanging fruit and potential high export earner for the country.
Exports of our degree programmes and increasing our international student intake has the potential to have the desired impact on our economy.
The country can also leverage on its high literacy rate to export education services.
Publish Date: Monday 18 November 2019
