The Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) is set to launch a novel Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Education (PDTE) to equip STEM educators with advanced skills aligned with Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 doctrine. The initiative underscores HIT’s commitment to fostering technological innovation, industrialisation, and socio-economic growth through higher education.
In his opening remarks during a consultative forum to engage stakeholders on the new programme, the Director of Academic Programmes, Engineer Perkins Muredzi, emphasised the programme’s strategic alignment with national goals of technological advancement and industrial development. “This postgraduate diploma is designed to produce graduates capable of leading curriculum innovation, digital transformation, and integrating emerging technologies into education systems,” he stated.
The PDTE programme, set to span 18 months with a comprehensive curriculum, focuses on critical pillars of Education 5.0: teaching, research, community engagement, innovation, and industrialisation. It also aims to develop educators who can effectively teach adult learners in STEM fields, implement innovative teaching methods, and contribute to national and regional industrial growth.
The curriculum draws benchmarking insights from regional universities and emphasises practical competencies such as STEM curriculum development, technology integration, assessment, research methodologies, and technopreneurship. The programme also incorporates blended learning modalities, combining face-to-face sessions with online modules, to enhance accessibility and engagement.
With an intake requirement of a relevant first degree in a STEM or technopreneuerial discipline, the programme prepares graduates for careers as higher and tertiary education lecturers, research consultants, curriculum planners, and industrial training managers. Graduates can also pursue further studies towards a Master’s degree in Technology Education.
HIT’s move to launch this postgraduate programme reflects its strategic vision to nurture industry-ready thought leaders and drive Zimbabwe’s rapid technological and industrial transformation. The institute invited stakeholders from industry, government, and academia to collaborate and shape the programme’s future, ensuring it remains responsive to evolving socio-economic challenges.
The stakeholders were drawn from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, University of Zimbabwe, Bindura University of Science Education, Belvedere Technical Teachers Training College, Harare Polytechnic, Midlands State University, including HIT’s Quality Assurance Department and Technopreneurship Development Centre.
Speaking at the end of the consultative forum, Mr J. Nezandonyi, the Chairperson of the Technology Education Centre (TEC), assured the stakeholders that their contributions will be taken into consideration as they refine the programme.
