Harare, (New Ziana) -Thirty-two students from the Harare Polytechnic Mechatronics Class of 2024 will depart for China on Saturday, as the institution makes strides in its pursuit of international educational collaboration.

A send-off ceremony was held at the Harare Polytechnic on Thursday, celebrating the participation of the students in the Applied Talent Joint Teaching Program (ATJTP) with Ningbo Polytechnic of China.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Frederick Shava, whose speech was read on his behalf by his deputy Simelisizwe Sibanda, urged the students to seize the opportunity to acquire cutting-edge skills in Mechatronics Engineering.

“Your training in China will expose you to the latest technological advancements. I encourage you to be dedicated and bring back expertise that will contribute to Zimbabwe’s Vision (to become an upper middle income economy by) 2030,” he said.

Reminding the students that human capital is Zimbabwe’s greatest asset, Shava said; “You are not just students; you are ambassadors of Zimbabwe, entrusted with the responsibility of driving innovation, industrialization, and economic growth.”

“As His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa reminds us, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (a country is built by its own people), let this philosophy guide you in your journey.”

Established in 2022, the ATJTP is a five-year partnership between the Harare Polytechnic and Ningbo Polytechnic, facilitated by the China-Africa TVET (technical and vocational education and training) Cooperation Program, which aims to equip Zimbabwean students with world-class training in Mechatronics Engineering, bridging the critical skills gap and driving industrial transformation.

The students will undergo a dual-certification program, spending 12 months at the Harare Polytechnic and 18 to 24 months at Ningbo Polytechnic.

On completion, they will receive a National Certificate in Millwrights from the Harare Polytechnic and a Diploma in Mechatronics from Ningbo Polytechnic.

The initiative has already yielded positive results, with 30 students who trained in China in 2023, securing positions at Chinese enterprises operating in Zimbabwe.

The program reinforces Zimbabwe’s commitment to skills development, job creation, and economic transformation.

New Ziana