As industries worldwide surge forward in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Zimbabwe risks falling behind unless decisive action is taken. This pressing need for rapid advancement is the driving force behind Advanced Design Colleges’ (ADC) pioneering Autodesk training programs. The mission is clear: upskill the nation's educators now to secure a stake in tomorrow’s economy.
ADC’s initiative to unite Zimbabwe's brightest CAD educators, trainers, and industry professionals in a single collaborative effort stands to be a game-changer. Their vision extends beyond software proficiency; it is about cultivating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. By providing hands-on training with cutting-edge tools such as AutoCAD, Inventor, and Revit, ADC is not only redefining the learning experience for students but also reshaping Zimbabwe’s role in a fiercely competitive global economy.
For Zimbabwe, the stakes are high. As the nation pursues its ICT Vision 2030 and embraces the transformative Education 5.0 model, mastering the design, creation, and application of technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Without significant investment in future-ready skills, Zimbabwe risks missing out on the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, ADC’s Autodesk training program is beginning to turn the tide, empowering educators to bridge this skills gap and position their students—and the nation—at the forefront of global innovation.
“We can’t have graduates experiencing industrial applications only after they join the workforce. Why can’t we bring the industry to the schools?” said David Ngandu, founder of ADC, speaking at a two-day expo in Harare. The event’s focus was clear: equip lecturers with the latest teaching methodologies to directly impart practical, industry-relevant knowledge to students.
The theme of this year’s Expo, "Specialize. Optimize. Industrialize." encapsulated the core need: targeted skill development, mastery of advanced software, and translating that expertise into industrial impact. ADC’s mission aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s national priorities, fostering the skills required to succeed in the emerging global economy.
“If you specialize but don’t optimize, it’s not impactful,” Ngandu explained. “We want our lecturers to master the tools deeply and transfer that expertise into industry. That’s how we industrialize, and that’s how we align with Education 5.0: design, make, use.”
ADC’s ambitions extend beyond universities. Recognizing that innovation must start at an early age, the program will expand to primary schools by 2025, reaching students as young as Grade 4. This bold strategy aims to shape skills early, nurture creativity, and create a continuous talent pipeline flowing directly into the corporate world.
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“Our primary school students are the startups. Industry is where our product ends,” Ngandu stated. Partnerships with companies such as Zimplats and Masimba Construction validate the potential of Zimbabwe’s young talent, proving that with the right training, these students can compete globally and lead in their fields.
ADC is taking concrete steps to ensure access to the tools of the trade. Over 1,000 computers have been installed across institutions nationwide, and fully equipped labs have been set up to ensure hands-on learning experiences. In addition, Autodesk’s educational licenses remain free, removing financial barriers to access.
Ngandu’s journey with Autodesk began in 2002, when he witnessed the evolution of industry-specific software at a time when AutoCAD was the dominant tool in Africa. His work in South Africa and on major engineering projects in Mozambique highlighted a significant gap: highly qualified engineers who were unable to contribute effectively due to a lack of digital design skills.
“There were doctorate-level engineers who couldn’t be part of project teams because they lacked competence in software applications,” Ngandu recalled. “Everything was done via servers and design applications; there was no paperwork.”
This realization sparked a vision to not only train students but to overhaul the education system itself. Founded in 2016, ADC has since installed over 1,000 computers in schools nationwide and launched a CAD Academy program that spans from Grade 4 learners to industry professionals.
Yet ADC’s vision extends far beyond teaching software. It’s about raising the standard of design and manufacturing across Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabweans are naturally creative and talented,” Ngandu reflected. “But too often, we lack the design frameworks necessary to compete globally. We’re good at making—but we must also excel at designing, standardizing, and scaling.”
This is a crucial point. Without standardized, professional design processes, even the most innovative local products will struggle to penetrate international markets. With training in industry-standard CAD tools, Zimbabwe’s artisans, engineers, and manufacturers can now envision larger-scale possibilities: from local workshops in Glen View to global trade fairs.
A key advantage is that Autodesk software is free for educational use, making this training accessible to institutions that have previously been hindered by prohibitive costs.
In this quiet revolution, ADC is not just teaching skills; they are laying the foundation for Zimbabwe’s future in the global tech and design landscape.
