The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development (MHTEISTD), in partnership with FAWEZI, convened a National Stakeholder Engagement Meeting to advance the implementation of the Science Foundation Programme (SFP) under the FAWE/Mastercard Foundation Phase II Programme. The initiative seeks to establish an inclusive, nationally coordinated pathway into tertiary STEM education, enabling young women and men from diverse backgrounds including those who may not meet conventional university entry requirements to access higher education and realize their full potential.

The engagement brought together the Permanent Secretary for MHTEISTD, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE), Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, university vice chancellors, STEM faculty deans, and other leaders from Zimbabwe’s higher and tertiary education sector. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on lessons and best practices from a recent benchmarking visit to Uganda, where participants examined the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC), a nationally recognized bridging programme that offers alternative pathways into STEM disciplines.

Deliberations focused on the vision, governance structures, institutional readiness, quality assurance mechanisms, and partnership frameworks necessary for the successful rollout of a nationally coordinated Science Foundation Programme in Zimbabwe. Stakeholders emphasized the need for flexible, equitable, and quality-assured entry routes that will expand access to tertiary education while strengthening the country’s human capital, innovation ecosystem, and industrialisation agenda.

FAWEZI remains committed to collaborating with government, higher and tertiary education institutions, and development partners to ensure that every young person has access to quality education, skills development, and opportunities to thrive.