By Beverly Bizeki
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company has taken a major step in promoting education and career development by launching the first stand-alone edition of the Scholastica Expo, with an estimated 4,500 participants expected to attend.
The inaugural expo will take place from July 30 to August 1, 2025, at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City in Bulawayo under the theme: Empowering Future Generations through Heritage-Based Education and Innovation. Participants are expected to come from across the country and the southern African region.
ZITF Company CEO Dr. Nicholas Ndebele said the decision to separate Scholastica from the main ZITF event was made to allow for greater focus and engagement on education and career development issues.
“The decision to host Scholastica in July as an independent event stems directly from crucial conversations held during past ZITF editions, where the consistent theme was the urgent need to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia, and separating Scholastica from the main ZITF this year will give it greater prominence and allow deeper engagement with issues such as heritage-based education, indigenous knowledge systems, and career development,” said Dr Ndebele.
ZITF Company Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Thandolwenkosi Nkomo said the stand-alone expo reflects the organisation’s commitment to advancing education and creating platforms for impactful dialogue.
“Positioning Scholastica as a standalone expo after more than a decade signals our commitment to advancing education and career development opportunities. With our ambitious target of 4,500 participants we aim to create an unparalleled platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
“We want Scholastica Expo to be the go-to event for students, professionals, development agencies, businesses, recruiters and everyone with an interest in the education sector so as to bridge the gap between industry and academia and facilitate the production of a future ready and relevant workforce for the country,” said Nkomo.
He said the Expo aimed to become the premier event for students, professionals, development agencies, businesses, recruiters, and all stakeholders in the education sector, helping bridge the gap between industry and academia to build a workforce ready to meet the country’s future needs.
“The Scholastica Expo seeks to deliver value across several strategic dimensions, including bridging the gap between industry and academia by fostering connections between educational institutions and prospective employers. This will nurture a workforce equipped to drive Zimbabwe’s economic transformation,” Nkomo said.
He further highlighted that the expo would feature a centralized career fair to streamline recruitment, networking, and exposure for students exploring post-secondary opportunities.
“The expo will also champion Heritage-Based Education by complementing the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 curriculum and celebrating indigenous knowledge systems and cultural identity through a series of curated activities and exhibits. We invite students, educators, professionals, and industry stakeholders to be part of this historic event, where education meets innovation and opportunities take flight,” said Nkomo.
