LSU offers scholarships
LUPANE State University (LSU) has unveiled 60 scholarships in 12 of its science related disciplines as part of efforts to complement the Government’s initiative in promoting science related learning in the country.
The university’s spokesperson, Mr Zwelithini Dhlamini, confirmed the development saying the programme that is set to start in July was in line with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative.
“We are pleased to announce that LSU has unveiled 60 scholarships starting in July 2017. The scholarships will benefit 60 students that will be selected for various degree programmes,” he said.
Mr Dhlamini said the scholarships were in support of the STEM programme which sought to promote science education in the country with a view to promote industrialisation and grow the economy.
Under the STEM programme the Government offers free education for Advanced Level pupils who enrol for Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry and related subjects.
It is part of the Governments’ initiative to promote these science subjects that are at the core of national development plans which are to ensure that there are more people who have science related skills.
The LSU scholarships will be offered in the following degree programmes, Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Applied Biotechnology, Wildlife Resources Management, Irrigation Engineering, Environmental Science, Business Computing, Geography and GIS.
They will also offer a scholarship under the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences Honours degree in Horticulture and Landscaping, Crop Sciences and one in Animal Science and Rangeland Management.
The other scholarships are for Bachelor of Education Honours degree in Mathematics, Geography and Agriculture.
Mr Dhlamini said the criteria for choosing beneficiaries for the scholarship would be based on the results of the students at Advanced Level.
“We will select from students who completed their Advanced Levels and did well in the particular subjects. It will be on a conventional basis meaning the students will have to be full time students. The scholarship covers tuition and accommodation,” he said.
A total of five students per programme are going to be selected giving a total of 60 students.
The university has also introduced a new degree programme in the Biotechnology department, Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Applied Biotechnology.
Mr Dhlamini said the degree programme would provide an opportunity for the country to develop the critical mass required to steer the biotechnology agenda forward.
Aspects of the programme range from the bioengineering of crop plants for improved crop yields to bio-fuel production, genetic engineering, tissue culture, diagnostics and molecular pharming to name a few.
“The embracing of biotechnology by Zimbabweans could go a long way towards solving some of the issues which are presenting major challenges to the country. For instance, to combat the scourge of malaria, research teams can be formed and focus on malariarelated biochemistry to develop new ways of malaria diagnostics that are simple and cost effective,” he said.
In crops he said applied breeding could be done for key food crops such as maize, sorghum, millet, rapoko and cowpeas for increased disease and drought tolerance and improved yield and quality with the aim of improving food security in Zimbabwe and the region at large.