Gweru, 31 October 2025 – Midlands State University (MSU) has taken a decisive step to fortify its academic core, hosting a dynamic hybrid capacity-building session to energise its research mentorship programme.
The event, orchestrated by the University’s Research and Innovation Division, united senior and early-career scholars to forge powerful mentor-mentee partnerships. The goal: to accelerate research excellence and secure the University’s intellectual legacy.
Why does this matter? Mentorship is the engine of institutional growth. It is the deliberate, strategic transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next.
“Mentorship creates a dynamic and enriching cycle of learning,” said Dr. S. Chitima, Deputy Executive Dean for Research and Innovation, in his opening address. “Knowledge flows both ways—from mentor to mentee and, often, vibrantly back again.”
This initiative is a direct investment in MSU’s most valuable asset: its people.
Mentors—professors and senior researchers with proven track records—shared their journeys and strategies.
Mentees—lecturers, assistants, and postgraduate researchers—gained critical tools to navigate their own academic paths.
The session provided a robust platform for crafting work plans, setting research goals, and establishing metrics for success. A compelling panel discussion saw seasoned mentors distill years of experience into actionable insights.
This drive for a superior research culture is already delivering results. MSU’s recent climb to 18th place in the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings is a direct testament to this focused commitment.
The programme does more than strengthen MSU.
It builds bridges of knowledge that extend beyond the campus, enriching Zimbabwe’s entire national research and innovation ecosystem.
This is how legacy is built. One connection at a time.
