The role of universities on human capital development in Zimbabwe

Countries should encourage their workforce to foster human development as it contributes to the economic development through having a well-trained and skilled workforce. The countries that are economically developed have stood out because of human capabilities that have triggered economic development. With innovation being one of the major advantages of human capital, new ideas lead to the creation of vast employment opportunities especially for those that have studied critical skill subjects. The economic status of Zimbabwe shows that there is human capital development happening in the country, but there is a serious shortage of skills in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics that are necessary for the industrialisation of the country. The government believes that Zimbabwe can industrialise if STEM education is integrated in the country’s educational system to make human capital development wholistic. The study aims to understand the concept of human capital development and how it can be developed at a balance. A discussion on the primary role of universities and higher learning institutions on developing human capital will be done. Universities educate and equip students with knowledge and skills, hence both STEM and non-STEM curricula is needed to develop human capital that is balanced. This is because STEM graduates that are innovative can create jobs for non-STEM graduates and help a country to industrialise and develop its economy. Universities are recommended to increase public awareness of STEM, train teachers specifically for STEM, invest in research and development and develop STEM-related policies and systems to develop more STEM graduates to strike a balance with non-STEM graduates and enhance industrialisation in Zimbabwe. Interviews were conducted and analysed and some of the recommendations made were to encourage the government to deregulate to attract investment, to increase the public’s awareness of STEM and to train STEM teachers accordingly