ZITF Company Gears Up for Standalone Scholastica Expo 2025, Emphasizing Heritage-Based Education and Innovation

26 June 2025

By Charity Chikara

The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company will host Scholastica Expo 2025 as a stand-alone event for the first time, running from 30 July to 1 August at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City in Bulawayo.

Held under the theme “Empowering Future Generations Through Heritage-Based Education and Innovation,” the expo is set to deepen national conversations around skills, innovation, and identity.

Traditionally held as part of the main ZITF showcase, Scholastica has evolved over more than a decade from a side activity into a dynamic education and careers platform. Earlier editions focused on youth career guidance, STEM competitions, and interactive displays from training institutions.

In recent years, however, the programme has taken on more strategic weight, introducing sessions on robotics, entrepreneurship, and eco-conscious innovation. The 2023 edition alone attracted over 1,000 youth participants and more than 100 institutions, underlining its growing role in shaping Zimbabwe’s talent pipeline.

ZITF Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Thandolwenkosi Nkomo said the decision to separate Scholastica from the main trade fair was a deliberate move to amplify that impact.

“Scholastica was always part of the broader trade fair, but this year we’ve decided to position it as a stand-alone expo because of our commitment to advancing education and career development opportunities,” he said.

Nkomo said the event is expected to draw more than 4,500 participants, with confirmed interest from both local and international exhibitors.

“We’re expecting exhibitors from across Zimbabwe and beyond to grace the occasion,” he said.

In addition to sector-focused exhibitions and panel discussions, a centralised Career Fair will anchor the programme, streamlining access to mentorship, training opportunities, and employment pathways.

“We want Scholastica to be the go-to event for students, professionals, development agencies, businesses and recruiters, so we can facilitate the production of a future-ready, relevant workforce for the country,” Nkomo said.

This year’s edition will also sharpen its focus on Heritage-Based Education, which has become a defining feature of the expo in recent years. Previous editions have featured themes around the Education 5.0 model, cultural entrepreneurship, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into formal learning.

“This will be a high-impact platform where innovation meets preparation, where young people start to chart real, practical futures grounded in Zimbabwe’s heritage-based learning philosophy,” Nkomo added.

This year’s edition will also sharpen its focus on Heritage-Based Education, which has become a defining feature of the expo in recent years. Previous editions have featured themes around the Education 5.0 model, cultural entrepreneurship, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into formal learning.

“This will be a high-impact platform where innovation meets preparation, where young people start to chart real, practical futures grounded in Zimbabwe’s heritage-based learning philosophy,” Nkomo added.

By giving Scholastica its own platform, ZITF Company is positioning the expo not just as a support act to industry, but as a national engine for human capital transformation, rooted in heritage, but geared toward the future.