By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
STEMpower, a non-profit organization advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education across Africa, participated in the Robotics Discovery and Innovation Expo held at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in Zimbabwe, joining students, educators, innovators and technology enthusiasts for a day focused on robotics, technology and practical innovation.
The Expo provided a platform for students to explore robotics, electronics, programming and emerging technologies through practical demonstrations and hands-on activities.
The event also showcased how access to technology and practical STEM learning can encourage young people to develop ideas, solve problems and explore careers in science and technology.
STEMpower works to expand access to quality, practical STEM education by establishing STEM Centers equipped with electronics and computer laboratories.
These centers provide students with opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, experiment with technology and develop practical skills that can support innovation and entrepreneurship.
With 163 STEM Centers across 52 African countries, STEMpower continues to build a continent-wide network of spaces where young people can access technology, develop their skills and turn their ideas into solutions for their communities.
Strengthening STEM Education in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has placed increasing emphasis on STEM education, innovation and technology as part of its efforts to prepare young people for a changing economy.
The country’s Education Sector Strategic Plan identified increasing the number of learners taking STEM and STEAM subjects as a key priority, alongside expanding teacher capacity in STEM education.
At the same time, access to practical STEM learning remains uneven.
Recent data from UNICEF Zimbabwe shows that only 32 percent of schools were connected to the internet according to the 2024 Education Management Information System, while pupil-to-computer ratios remained high, at 1:68 in primary schools and 1:27 in secondary schools. Girls also continue to be underrepresented in STEM education and careers.
These gaps highlight the importance of creating more opportunities for students to interact directly with technology and develop practical skills alongside classroom learning.
In Chinhoyi, the STEM Center established by STEMpower at Chinhoyi University of Technology is contributing to this effort by providing students in the surrounding community with access to electronics, computers and hands-on STEM learning.
The center offers a space where young learners can experiment, build, test and learn through practice, helping bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
The partnership also complements CUT’s longstanding focus on science, technology, engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The university has identified itself as a national hub for science, technology and engineering education and has placed innovation, industrialisation and community engagement at the center of its institutional development.
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