Global Healthcare
By Patrick Musira in Harare : An inaugural international research and intellectual conference pioneering the Future in Global Healthcare takes place from today until Friday in Harare.
Leading academic institutions of higher learning and the country’s intellectual crème de la crème will come together to exhibit and discuss how to further extend the boundaries of research and “to give the Zimbabwean public an opportunity to acquaint themselves with what happens at our institutions of higher learning”, according to Stanislous Mudenge, minister of higher and tertiary education.
The conference is planned to be an annual event and is to be held every September and will include presentations by some of the country’s most influential leaders.
This three-day expose by the country’s intellectual centres will feature prominent speakers and leading researchers from a wide variety of specialties such as: Governance and leadership; National Food Security; Education; and Scientific Innovation and Creativity.
Discussion topics include: ICTs and emerging technologies; Human potential through training; Research and development and its role in industry and commerce; Mainstreaming gender in energy; Tourism; Zimbabwe’s Land Reform programme; Tracking Climate Change in Zimbabwe; Water and Sanitation and sustainable use of natural resources. Innovation, Creativity and Development; Governance and Leadership and Afro-centric Perspective; Household and National Food Security in Zimbabwe; and Improving the Quality of Education through Curriculum Renewal in Zimbabwe; Possibilities and Challenges.
Within these are various sub-themes and these will take place in parallel sessions in different lecture theatres at the campus.
The RIE kicks off this morning at the Harare International Conference Centre and will be opened by the higher and tertiary education minister followed by the centre-piece of this “intellectual trade fair” – a distinguished lecture by a prominent intellectual personage.
Giving a taste of what to expect, minister Mudenge said intellectual jamboree will seek to “instill a sense of self belief, to solve our own problems,” provide a market analysis to discuss medical procedures that attract travelers and the best countries and facilities to invest in.
In efforts to de-mystify the ivory tower perception of academic institutions, there will also be special focus on parallel sessions on indigenous knowledge systems, gender issues, legal systems and inter-cultural dialogue and creativity. New trends in leadership systems – corporate governance, citizen participation as well as social justice will be open to debate.
“We will present at the conference over 80 papers from our researchers – local and from the region,” added the minister, adding that performing expos from the participating institutions will take place every evening culminating with awards presentations to outstanding institutions and personages.
