Harare, (New Ziana) — Southern African Development Community member states have been urged to expeditiously ratify the SADC University of Transformation (SUT), a flagship regional initiative aimed at producing job creators rather than job seekers.
Speaking at the official opening of the SADC Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Education, Training, Science, Technology, and Innovation in Harare on Tuesday, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, called on delegates to act with urgency and purpose in unlocking the institution’s full potential.
“This flagship initiative is no longer a concept but a living institution poised to bridge the gap between SADC academia and industry. By ratifying the SUT, we commit to producing job creators, not just job seekers, with curricula aligned to regional value chains in mining, agriculture, and ICT,” he said.
Prof Tagwira highlighted that the SUT, once ratified, would play a critical role in driving the region’s industrialisation by equipping learners with relevant skills and entrepreneurial mindsets. He urged member states to align their education systems with the broader goals of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy (2015–2063) and the region’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Agenda.
“No nation can rise above the level of its education. Education, science, technology, and innovation are the engines of socio-economic development. The time to act is now,” he said.
He outlined four strategic focus areas essential for transforming the region which are; Access to quality education, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and digital literacy; Innovation and entrepreneurship through fostering a culture that drives job creation and economic growth; Leveraging STI, to tackle pressing regional challenges such as climate change, health, and food security; as well as enhanced regional collaboration, through strengthened partnerships among member states and international stakeholders.
Professor Tagwira also underscored the importance of harmonizing qualifications across borders, emphasizing the need for member states to adopt and implement the SADC Qualifications Framework (SADCQF), the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF II), and the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ).
He said the SADC Referencing Project and the upcoming SADC Qualifications and Credential Platform were poised to be transformative, enabling skilled professionals to work freely across member countries without facing recognition barriers.
“This is the essence of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training. Let us adopt the revised Credit Accumulation and Transfer Systems (CATS) and the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Guidelines developed by our own experts to make this vision a reality,” said Prof Tagwira.
The revised RPL Guidelines, he said, would especially empower women and youth in rural areas by formalising skills acquired informally, enabling greater participation in the formal economy.
“This is inclusive growth in action. It not only benefits our region but can inform mutual recognition agendas across COMESA and even the G20,” he said.
As the region gathers momentum towards industrialisation and sustainable development, the call to ratify the SADC University of Transformation stands as a critical step forward—one that could redefine the future of education and economic resilience across Southern Africa.
New Ziana
