ZOU COMMISSIONS NATIONAL INFORMATION ACCESS CENTRE: A DIGITAL LEAP FOR EDUCATION 5.0

In a landmark development for Zimbabwe’s digital landscape, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Dr. Frederick M. Shava, today officially commissioned the National Information Access Centre (NIAC) at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) Main Campus in Hatcliffe in Harare. Established through a strategic partnership with South Korea’s National Information Society Agency (NIA), the state-of-the-art facility is being hailed as a “door to the future” for Zimbabwean researchers. The high-profile ceremony was attended by a distinguished gallery of officials, including the South Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Park Jae Kyung, and the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan, Senator Charles Tavengwa.

Engineer Mvenge (Right) demonstrates “state-of-the-art National Information Access Centre (NIAC)” to the Minister, Korean Ambassador & Delegates.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Dr. Frederick M. Shava address delegates at the Commissioning of the IAC

A Strategic Hub for Innovation

The NIAC is envisioned as a national strategic asset, transcending the role of a traditional computer lab to function as a high-level engine for training and content creation. ZOU Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Paul Henry Gundani, described the centre as a “living example” of international cooperation that integrates Zimbabwe into the “global village” of knowledge.

The facility is specifically equipped to drive:

• Emerging Technologies: Providing critical access to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data tools.
• High-Speed Connectivity: Bridging the gap for distance learners through expanded access to global research databases.
• Cybersecurity & Skills: Offering essential digital training for the public sector, youth, and local entrepreneurs.

Realizing Education 5.0 and NDS2

The commissioning reinforces the Government’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy, which prioritizes innovation and industrialization. By serving as a “working laboratory” for software development and hackathons, the NIAC aims to incubate student ideas into market-ready startups, directly advancing the goals of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). In a unique fusion of tech and tradition, Prof. Gundani noted that the infrastructure will also be used to digitize local languages and indigenous knowledge, ensuring Zimbabwe’s digital leap remains firmly rooted in its national identity.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The partnership underscores the deepening diplomatic and technical relationship between Harare and Seoul. Ambassador Park Jae Kyung drew parallels between Zimbabwe’s current trajectory and South Korea’s historical economic rise, which was powered by aggressive investment in human capital and R&D. “Investment in human capital is the most important investment a country can make,” Ambassador Park remarked. He noted that the NIAC is part of a broader collaborative framework involving the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the African Development Bank to foster university-based entrepreneurship.

The ceremony concluded with a tour of the facility, where dignitaries observed the infrastructure that will now serve as a dynamic hub for collaboration, research, and technological experimentation for students nationwide.

IAC Commissioning Event Gallery