The International University of Management (IUM) and Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in Zimbabwe have established a powerful academic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 14 August 2024, in Windhoek, Namibia. This MoU agreement, signed against the backdrop of the ongoing RUFORUM 2nd Triennial Conference in Windhoek, will drive knowledge and resource exchange across Southern African countries.
The MoU signals a decisive collaboration, with both institutions ready to combine their strengths to enhance academic programs, research, innovation, and technology.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of IUM, Prof. Osmund Mwandemele, highlighted that IUM is set to significantly boost its new agricultural management and implementation programs by drawing on CUT’s exceptional expertise, aiming to play a crucial role in advancing food security in the region.
In response, Vice Chancellor of CUT, Prof. David Simbi, emphasized that the partnership with IUM will significantly advance the development of localized software and hardware systems, powered by local talent—whether students or staff. Both universities are committed to jointly publishing impactful research that will resonate across the continent.
This partnership is a bold step towards regional leadership in higher education, reinforcing IUM and CUT as key players in the academic and research sectors of Southern Africa.
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), established by an Act of Parliament in Zimbabwe on 10 December 2001, is a prestigious institution located in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West, approximately 120 km from Harare. Originally evolving from the Chinhoyi Technical Teachers’ College, founded in 1991, the university began offering degree programs in 1999 under the University of Zimbabwe’s oversight. By 2001, CUT gained full university status and has since grown into a highly selective institution, serving nearly 13,000 students with a focus on, but not limited to, agriculture, engineering, and business sciences.
CUT is proudly ranked among the top five universities in Zimbabwe and has emerged as a powerhouse of cutting-edge research, pioneering programs, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence in the Southern African academic arena. What sets CUT apart is its seamless integration of advanced scientific exploration with practical, real-world applications. In its bustling laboratories, students and faculty work together to transform theoretical concepts into groundbreaking solutions. This is not just education, it is a revolution in thinking and doing. With a strong focus on industry partnerships, CUT ensures that its innovations extend far beyond the campus, creating ripples that impact industries and uplift communities across the continent.