NUST Wraps Up 5th ESDIIRC Conference Emphasising Technology, Inclusivity and Cultural Heritage
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has concluded the 5th Education for Sustainable Development Interdisciplinary International Research Conference (ESDIIRC), a threeday gathering that drew more than 50 scholars, practitioners and policymakers from highereducation institutions across the globe. Held at Motsamai Lodge in Bulawayo from 24th-26th September, the event closed with renewed commitments to translate research into practice along the conference’s theme: Innovative Pathways to Education for Sustainable Development: Leveraging Technology, Promoting Inclusivity, and Cultural Heritage for a Resilient Future.
In his welcome remarks, NUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Mqhele Dlodlo framed the conference around three pivotal pillars of ESD, urging participants throughout the event to prioritise digital innovation, inclusive access and the preservation and use of Indigenous Knowledge. He reiterated that the conference sought to “forge creative, evidencebased pathways that connect research, policy, and practice, pathways that address global challenges while nurturing resilient and sustainable communities.”
Prof. Dlodlo highlighted NUST’s institutional work that underpinned many of the conference conversations inclusive of the Faculty of Science & Technology Education’s stewardship of the annual ESDIIRC as a research platform for sustainability; the embedding of sustainability across curricula through modules such as Biodiversity of Life, Environmental Chemistry, Entrepreneurship & Financial Management, and Culture and Heritage Studies aligned with Zimbabwe’s HeritageBased Education 5.0 framework; the establishment of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to promote climateresilient farming and sustainable food systems. He also commended waste-management and recycling efforts, including a plastic management project led by the NUST Enactus Club and active participation in the monthly National Clean-Up Campaign, saying these initiatives foster environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Keynotes and a Cautionary Call on Technology
Guest of Honour Prof. Tawana Kupe cautioned delegates against uncritical technoutopianism even as he acknowledged technology’s transformative potential. He argued that while digital tools, elearning platforms and Artificial Intelligence can accelerate progress toward the SDGs, they can also deepen inequalities unless guided by human agency and social purpose. “Technology is a doubleedged sword,” he said, calling on universities to pursue knowledgedriven, contextsensitive innovations and to adopt interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches that bridge academia and society.
Other keynote voices who shaped the conference’s conversations included Prof. Jean Greyling (Nelson Mandela University), Prof. Lawrence Meda (Sharjah Education Academy) and Dr. Yogesh Velankar (Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai), each contributing perspectives on technology, pedagogy and institutional leadership for sustainable development.
Throughout the conference’s parallel sessions, researchers presented papers that linked education, technology and sustainability with practical, contextaware interventions. Notable research papers presented included:
“AI and Educational Equity” by Fedina Moyo, which examined the role of artificial intelligence in widening or narrowing access to quality learning.
“Climate Literacy in Zimbabwean Textbooks” by Hazellynne Ndlovu, which analysed how environmental education is framed and recommended enhancements to curricula.
“Transformational Leadership for Inclusive Education” by Guvhu Rosemary, which proposed leadership models to advance inclusive systems and improve outcomes for marginalised learners.
“Gamification in Algebra Teaching” by Sibanda Sipho, which evaluated gamified teaching techniques and reported gains in student engagement and conceptual understanding.
“Empowering Communities through Innovative Education Pathways” by Sibusiso Sibanda, which showcased community-centred programmes that link education, livelihoods and local resilience.
Presenters shared empirical findings, case studies and practical recommendations that reinforced the conference’s message that; interventions must be evidencebased, culturally grounded and designed with attention to local realities if they are to be scalable and sustainable.
Speakers and delegates agreed that interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and practice are essential to address the interconnected nature of the SDGs. Prof. Dlodlo reiterated that universities cannot work in isolation and called for stronger interuniversity, crossborder and multistakeholder partnerships to translate research into tangible societal impact.
The conference also underscored the role of curriculum reform in preparing graduates for sustainable futures, highlighting NUST’s curriculum integration and the new Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology as examples of institutional alignment with national priorities such as climatesmart agriculture and industrialisation.
As the 5th ESDIIRC drew to a close, organisers emphasised followthrough, publishing conference proceedings, fostering postconference working groups, and strengthening networks that can carry forward pilot interventions into policy and practice. Delegates left with a clear sense that modest, welldirected initiatives, from AI tools designed for equity to gamified classroom techniques and heritagebased curricula, can collectively advance education for sustainable development when paired with partnership, leadership and a commitment to social context.
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has concluded the 5th Education for Sustainable Development Interdisciplinary International Research Conference (ESDIIRC), a threeday gathering that drew more than 50 scholars, practitioners and policymakers from highereducation institutions across the globe. Held at Motsamai Lodge in Bulawayo from 24th-26th September, the event closed with renewed commitments to translate research into practice along the conference’s theme: Innovative Pathways to Education for Sustainable Development: Leveraging Technology, Promoting Inclusivity, and Cultural Heritage for a Resilient Future.
In his welcome remarks, NUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Mqhele Dlodlo framed the conference around three pivotal pillars of ESD, urging participants throughout the event to prioritise digital innovation, inclusive access and the preservation and use of Indigenous Knowledge. He reiterated that the conference sought to “forge creative, evidencebased pathways that connect research, policy, and practice, pathways that address global challenges while nurturing resilient and sustainable communities.”
Prof. Dlodlo highlighted NUST’s institutional work that underpinned many of the conference conversations inclusive of the Faculty of Science & Technology Education’s stewardship of the annual ESDIIRC as a research platform for sustainability; the embedding of sustainability across curricula through modules such as Biodiversity of Life, Environmental Chemistry, Entrepreneurship & Financial Management, and Culture and Heritage Studies aligned with Zimbabwe’s HeritageBased Education 5.0 framework; the establishment of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to promote climateresilient farming and sustainable food systems. He also commended waste-management and recycling efforts, including a plastic management project led by the NUST Enactus Club and active participation in the monthly National Clean-Up Campaign, saying these initiatives foster environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Keynotes and a Cautionary Call on Technology
Guest of Honour Prof. Tawana Kupe cautioned delegates against uncritical technoutopianism even as he acknowledged technology’s transformative potential. He argued that while digital tools, elearning platforms and Artificial Intelligence can accelerate progress toward the SDGs, they can also deepen inequalities unless guided by human agency and social purpose. “Technology is a doubleedged sword,” he said, calling on universities to pursue knowledgedriven, contextsensitive innovations and to adopt interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches that bridge academia and society.
Other keynote voices who shaped the conference’s conversations included Prof. Jean Greyling (Nelson Mandela University), Prof. Lawrence Meda (Sharjah Education Academy) and Dr. Yogesh Velankar (Indian Institute of Technology Bhilai), each contributing perspectives on technology, pedagogy and institutional leadership for sustainable development.
Throughout the conference’s parallel sessions, researchers presented papers that linked education, technology and sustainability with practical, contextaware interventions. Notable research papers presented included:
“AI and Educational Equity” by Fedina Moyo, which examined the role of artificial intelligence in widening or narrowing access to quality learning.
“Climate Literacy in Zimbabwean Textbooks” by Hazellynne Ndlovu, which analysed how environmental education is framed and recommended enhancements to curricula.
“Transformational Leadership for Inclusive Education” by Guvhu Rosemary, which proposed leadership models to advance inclusive systems and improve outcomes for marginalised learners.
“Gamification in Algebra Teaching” by Sibanda Sipho, which evaluated gamified teaching techniques and reported gains in student engagement and conceptual understanding.
“Empowering Communities through Innovative Education Pathways” by Sibusiso Sibanda, which showcased community-centred programmes that link education, livelihoods and local resilience.
Presenters shared empirical findings, case studies and practical recommendations that reinforced the conference’s message that; interventions must be evidencebased, culturally grounded and designed with attention to local realities if they are to be scalable and sustainable.
Speakers and delegates agreed that interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and practice are essential to address the interconnected nature of the SDGs. Prof. Dlodlo reiterated that universities cannot work in isolation and called for stronger interuniversity, crossborder and multistakeholder partnerships to translate research into tangible societal impact.
The conference also underscored the role of curriculum reform in preparing graduates for sustainable futures, highlighting NUST’s curriculum integration and the new Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology as examples of institutional alignment with national priorities such as climatesmart agriculture and industrialisation.
As the 5th ESDIIRC drew to a close, organisers emphasised followthrough, publishing conference proceedings, fostering postconference working groups, and strengthening networks that can carry forward pilot interventions into policy and practice. Delegates left with a clear sense that modest, welldirected initiatives, from AI tools designed for equity to gamified classroom techniques and heritagebased curricula, can collectively advance education for sustainable development when paired with partnership, leadership and a commitment to social context.
