Higher Education Institutions and the Socio-Economic Sustainability of “Declining” Towns

The establishment of resource-based towns has long-term effects relative to economic sustenance of the town once activities deplete. This leads to declining mining settlements or ghost towns. The means to resuscitate former mining settlements is a challenge in both developed and developing countries. This chapter explores the impact of establishing a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in a former mining town in Zimbabwe. Various studies in Zimbabwe reveal that resource-based towns were negatively affected by the depletion of the key economic resource, resulting in the abandonment of the towns. However, the existence of infrastructure in the form of houses, offices and community halls at some of these towns attracted Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to the towns. The establishment of HEIs at declining resource-dependent towns has great potential to transition the affected towns into sustainable and vibrant urban centres. Despite the attraction of HEIs to declining towns in Zimbabwe, there has been limited research exploring the impacts such establishments have on the economy of the host towns. Interviews with town planners and mining officials, amongst others, reveal that the university increased employment creation, business opportunities and infrastructure development. However, to achieve long-term socio-economic sustainability, there is a need for the diversification of the economic base, innovation and partnering in development initiatives.