Abstract
Most engineering institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa generally suffer from the
persistent shortage and lack of accessibility to modern engineering equipment for the
training of engineers. The old and obsolete equipment available, invariably pose challenges
on the caliber of engineers being churned out to run industries in these developing
countries. Based on research carried out at four engineering institutions in Sub-Saharan
Africa through data collection and analysis, a smart procurement, use and maintenance
strategy in the form of strategic partnerships with industry was formulated using a systems
thinking approach. This paper looks at the development of this strategy and how the
proposed partnerships can help in sustainable development, capacity building and
ultimately bridging the gap between industry and academia. The implementation of this
novel approach at the University of Zimbabwe has brought immense benefits such as
students and staff access to modern equipment and technology.