BUSE leading centre for STEM education

BINDURA University of Science Education (BUSE) is the leading University advancing STEM Education through implementing various strategies to attract and encourage students to pursue degrees in STEM disciplines for socio-economic development.

Through methods such as offering internationally accepted STEM programmes at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level, Science Teacher Capacity Programmes, International and National STEM Conferences and Workshops, Annual Science and Mathematics Olympiads, University STEM Scholarships, partnerships with STEM Stakeholders, outreach programmes, specific recruitment strategies and STEM education research, BUSE has strived to advance STEM Education in Zimbabwe. STEM education is the core of Bindura University of Science Education as it prides in promoting Science for human development.

BUSE was established as a College of the University of Zimbabwe focussing on Science Teacher Training. The Government gazetted the BUSE Act in February 2000, conferring University status to the College. From then on BUSE transformed from being a College of the University of Zimbabwe to a University with its mandate. The objects of the University are the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, science education and learning, the preservation, dissemination and enhancement of knowledge that is relevant for the development of the people of Zimbabwe through teaching and research and, so far as is consistent with those objects, the nurturing of the intellectual, aesthetic, social and moral growth of the students at the University.

In terms of Government policy, Arts and Science education and learning which are stated in the mandate should constitute 60% of the programmes and student numbers. In this respect, the University has done well, with 80% of the Faculties fulfilling the mandate i.e., Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Faculty of Science Education, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science. The Faculty of Commerce accounts for the remaining 20%. The University offers internationally accepted Science-based programmes to the nation through more than 60% of its STEM degree programmes. The University cannot produce good Science Teachers without having a strong Science foundation, hence the need for natural and applied science programmes.

New STEM Degree Programmes and University STEM Scholarships

BUSE is the leading Institution of STEM education and advancement in the country through its teaching and learning in STEM programmes, research and community engagement. The Faculty of Science is the beacon of STEM advancement through its Undergraduate and Post graduate programmes in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics and Mathematics.

The University is offering partial STEM scholarships for all Undergraduate students studying in these programmes since 2016 which has resulted in an increase in the uptake of these programmes in support of the Government STEM initiatives. The Faculty is introducing new and unique STEM degree programmes in August 2017, which include Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Optometry, a programme to address the shortage of Optometrists in the country; Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with specialisations in Software Engineering and Network Engineering; Master of Science in Physical Chemistry and Master of Science in Applied Microbiology and Plant Pathology.

These are innovative programmes aimed at improving the industrialisation in the country. The programmes except for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, are new introductions in the country and a greater part of the region. BUSE is cognisant of the fact that STEM needs to be applied in order to bring out the desired changes in quality of life and the environment. The Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science offers the following applied science undergraduate degree programmes: Crop Science; Animal Science; Forestry; Wildlife Ecology and Management; Natural Resources Management; and Safety, Health and Environmental Management. In order to address the shortage of manpower trained at postgraduate level a Master of Science Degree in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture was introduced recently and the first intake will be in August 2017. The University has got highly qualified staff to teach students in these programmes.

Science Teacher Capacity Programmes

An increasingly competitive global economy as well as growing challenges in sustainability require the best possible teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) classes at all levels in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, learners are not being taught these subjects as well as they should be. The Faculty of Science Education trains Science Teachers at Diploma, Undergraduate and Postgraduate level in the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Geography. The curriculum at BUSE trains the teachers to be innovative in the improvisation of laboratory equipment/apparatus and other complementary practical Science teaching strategies. This has enabled our trainees and graduates to function effectively even in under-resourced Schools.

BUSE-trained Science and Mathematics Teachers are in high demand in the region, which gives BUSE an opportunity for internationalisation. Our expertise and experience has been felt in other countries in the region. In recognition of the pivotal role being played by BUSE in championing the training of Science and Mathematics Teachers in Sub-Saharan Africa, the European Union incorporated BUSE in the Erasmus Mundus Science and Technology Education Teachers’ Training International Network (STETTIN) project, which is a partnership of European Institutions and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The aim of the project is to develop and build inter-institutional cooperation for Teacher training in scientific, technical and professional education fields. Bindura University of Science Education is the local International Centre for Research and Training in Scientific, Technical and Professional Education (CIRFEST) whose function is to coordinate the activities of Science and Technology Education Teachers’ Training International Network (STETTIN) project in Zimbabwe.

BUSE is upgrading Secondary School Science and Mathematics Teachers through the Government’s Teacher Capacity Development Programme. Currently, the first two cohorts of 400 Diploma teachers and 327 Degreed Teachers are being upgraded to Undergraduate degree and Master’s degree levels respectively.

Annual National Science and Mathematics Olympiads

BUSE in conjunction with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will run the National Science and Mathematics Olympiads for the third successive year in 2017. The subjects on focus are Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics. Science and Mathematics affect virtually every component of our everyday lives, thereby making it imperative to equip the future generation leaders with requisite skills and competencies for their success in the 21st century.

The Science and Mathematics Olympiads are intended to build learners’ interest in Science and Mathematics. Apart from providing learners with a chance to showcase their gift in Science and Mathematics, they will also inculcate a Mathematics and Science culture required for entry to a wide range of STEM disciplines and careers offered at Tertiary Institutions. The Olympiads provide an opportunity for young people to discover their potential, show their talent and to stretch themselves in Mathematics and Science and be further inspired to continue to excel.

In 2016, BUSE administered the National Science and Mathematics Olympiads in the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics at Advanced level. A total of 2 412 students from 267 schools wrote the first round and 956 students which is 40% of them, qualified for the final round.

The University sourced prizes and sponsorship from the corporate world. The top three students in each of the five subjects were awarded a laptop, an iPad and a tablet respectively.

Well Equipped Science and Computer Laboratories

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects are practical subjects, of which teaching and learning them cannot take place effectively if they are only done theoretically. BUSE has well equipped Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate research and practicals.

International STEM Conferences and Workshops

BUSE offers opportunities for Zimbabweans to share and learn STEM issues through running National and International STEM Education Conferences.