New university’s pioneers graduate
ANOTHER milestone was achieved in Manicaland yesterday (Thursday) as President Mnangagwa was installed the first Chancellor of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, while Professor Albert Chawanda was installed as the first Vice Chancellor of the province’s only State university.
The colourful inaugural graduation ceremony saw 114 students being capped.
In contributing to the sustainable economic development of the country through intensive utilisation of land, value addition and beneficiation of its minerals and other natural resources, the university started off with four faculties of Agri-Business and Commerce, Applied Science and Technology, Applied Social Sciences and Engineering.
Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS)’ multiple-campus approach that takes advantage of the province’s agro-ecological and geographical comparative advantages as well as Manicaland’s economic endowments sets it apart from all the other universities in the country.
MSUAS will have campuses at Fern-Hill, which is the main campus sitting on 120 hectares, as well as others in Headlands, Nyanga and Chipinge.
In his keynote address as Chancellor at the inaugural graduation ceremony, the President said the university must emerge as a centre of excellence which adequately equips the country’s human capital for the practical application of scientific knowledge to accelerate the growth of various sector of the economy.
“This should see the development of new products, as well as value addition and beneficiation of our mineral wealth and natural resource endowments in line with the Heritage Based Education 5.0 philosophy.
“As Chancellor, I direct the university to quickly broaden the programme development thrust and tape into the Second Republic’s focus on innovation driven results.
“The institution must not shy away from defining new frontiers in the use of science disciplines as well as related scientific research to leap forward the modernisation and industrialisation of our great motherland, Zimbabwe.
“Government, on the other hand, will continue to unlock the inherent potential and role of higher education in national development to accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030.
“Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences should establish the requisite human capital, resource base as well as synergies with other institutions for the development of academic excellence and innovation,” said President Mnangagwa.
He urged the university to rise and inspire surrounding communities, the province and the nation at large as it defines its niche in the academic, science, innovation and technology space.
“Critical thinking and the deployment of science must see the university solving emerging challenges such as climate change as well as the evolving needs of our Zimbabwean society.
He said MSUAS must remain a unique place of transformation where knowledge is constructed and re-constructed, while the present is secured.
“Within the context of its present and future relevance, Manicaland State University of Applied Science should define its footprint and impact on broad-based empowerment, as well as wealth creation to lift our people out of poverty and into prosperity.
“To this end, the university must expand its faculties and offer programmes and courses that are capable of propelling our national development agenda. Your strategic thrust in programme development must ensure that no field of study in Applied Sciences is deemed to be outside your purview. You are not a numbers, but a quality university.
“In the present development epoch, the nation must see an increased shift and impactful results in the constant and precise application of scientific enquiry. This must be evidenced by the promotion of the ‘make it possible philosophy’ of applied sciences as well as the production of more ‘Made in Zimbabwe’ goods and services.”
He added: “The university is called upon
to think big and without the box, identify methods that produce positive outcomes, as well as drive technological development and innovation.
This must be reflected in the multi-campus set-up and in both the planning, operations and growth of the university.
President Mnangagwa challenged the graduates to remain torch bearers and responsible citizens capable of deploying critical thinking and innovation.
“University education is merely an enabler for you to roll out self and community generated sustainable socio-economic development programmes and projects. Yours is the desire to be a source of transformation and hope, taking advantage of the emerging opportunities which our economy has to offer.
“As President and Chancellor, I assure you of my support towards the growth of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences guided by our philosophy of nyika inovakwa, inotongwa nevene vayo, ilizwe liyakhwa ngabanikazi balo. University ino tiri kuivaka tega, brick by brick, stone upon stone,” said the President.
The graduation ceremony also came at a time when Zimbabwe is still commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child.
The number of female graduates, although slightly less than their male counterparts, was encouraging.
From the 114 graduates, 46 were female, thereby translating to 40.4 percent of the graduates.
This is in line with the Second Republic’s mandate of empowering women and girls as they are indispensable cogs in the country’s quest to become a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030.
The late Mr Simbarashe Luxson Mhlanga posthumously graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Processing Honours Degree.