Zimbabwe

31 July 2024

Accusations of police brutality after arrest of 44 students

Zimbabwean police arrested 44 students during a meeting on education policies, leading to allegations of severe beatings and human rights abuses. The incident follows President Mnangagwa’s warning against protests ahead of the SADC Summit in August. Read more

Zimbabwe’s Brain Drain: Mandatory Work Program Fuels Medical Student Exodus

Zimbabwe’s mandatory post-graduation work program, known as “bonding,” is driving medical students to neighboring Zambia for better opportunities and fewer bureaucratic hurdles. This exodus exacerbates the country’s severe healthcare worker shortage while straining Zambia’s educational resources. Read more

Unearthing ‘Musankwa’: Team finds link in dinosaur evolution

Scientists discovered the fossils of Musankwa sanyatiensis, a bipedal dinosaur, in Zimbabwe. This find adds to our understanding of sauropodomorph evolution, linking early dinosaurs to their giant descendants. The discovery was published in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. Read more

Deputy HE minister fired over his ‘tribal’ outburst

President Mnangagwa fired Deputy Minister Simelisizwe Sibanda for publicly criticizing a teacher over her Shona surname in Matabeleland North, sparking accusations of tribalism. Sibanda later apologized, acknowledging his unprofessional conduct and its potential to incite tribal divisions. Read more

Archaeologists: Much to offer, but they are undervalued

Zimbabwean archaeologist Shadreck Chirikure argues for the underappreciated value of archaeology, highlighting its potential to inform modern challenges like climate change and economic development. He emphasizes the need for increased investment in African archaeology and universities to unlock the continent’s rich heritage. Read more

 

30 June 2024

SADiLaR director elected as fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences

Professor Langa Khumalo, Executive Director of SADiLaR, was elected as a fellow of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences at its 19th Annual General Meeting, recognizing his significant contributions to scientific development and African language research. Read more

Zimbabwe keen to collaborate with Russian universities

Zimbabwe seeks collaboration with two Russian universities, focusing on student and staff exchanges, joint research, and program development in areas such as education, technology, and innovation. This initiative builds on existing agreements and aims to strengthen educational ties between the two countries. Read more

Missing funds in Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 university allocation

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education cannot account for about US$500,000 allocated to state universities for COVID-19 PPE production. The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee may take action, including prosecution. Despite this, the minister received a performance award, raising concerns about corruption. Read more

 

31 May 2024

Zimbabwe and Russia Collaborate on Sustainable Mining

Zimbabwe’s Higher Education Minister Amon Murwira met with St. Petersburg Mining University to discuss the African Subsoil Consortium, aimed at responsibly developing Africa’s natural resources. The Consortium, hosted by Zimbabwe’s PAMUST, fosters collaboration among universities, research institutions, and mining companies, promoting sustainable mining practices and educational reforms. Read more

Bill may compel HE institutions to provide for disabilities

Zimbabwean bill proposes accessibility measures for universities. Institutions may be required by law to make buildings and resources accessible to students with disabilities. The bill also establishes a fund to support scholarships and training for students with disabilities. Read more

Modular system cultivates students who cram and regurgitate

Zimbabwe’s modular learning system is criticized for cramming, limited understanding, and hindering social life. Students feel pressured to memorize for frequent exams instead of gaining a deep understanding. This approach is seen as producing half-baked graduates and incompatible with Education 5.0’s focus on innovation. Read more

 

30 April 2024

Zimbabwe shifts education focus: From job seekers to innovators and industrialists

In a major shift, Zimbabwe is revamping its educational system to focus on fostering innovation and industrialization. The government’s “Education 5.0” initiative aims to move away from simply producing job seekers, instead equipping graduates with the skills to become entrepreneurs and industrialists. Universities are now creating business startups and goods in line with the country’s development goals, with a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. More

MSU Paves the Way in HR Analytics with International Conference

Midlands State University in Zimbabwe held an international conference on HR Analytics. The event explored how data analysis can improve talent management, employee engagement, and business decision-making, leading to a stronger organization and happier workforce. More

Lone student carries torch for the San community’s language

Nkosiyazi Brian Ncube, the first San community member graduating from university, carries the hope of preserving the endangered Khoisan language, planning to teach and integrate it into the curriculum post-graduation, despite the dropout of his peers due to financial hurdles. More

 

31 March 2024

Student housing projects worth US$66 million planned

Zimbabwe’s IDBZ is building more student housing! A US$66 million tender will construct residences across the country. New projects include university-adjacent developments and residence cities with shops. While some students value security in IDBZ complexes, others find the lack of cooking facilities a burden.  More

Zimbabwean authorities remove 2 Indian, 5 Cyprus universities from accredited list

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) has removed seven universities from India and Cyprus from its accredited list. This follows ZIMCHE’s move to invalidate honorary degrees awarded by the International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP), which they say violates Zimbabwean law. ZIMCHE urges the public to verify the accreditation status of any foreign university before enrolling. More

 

31 January 2024

Government Invites Applications For Presidential Scholarships For Undergraduate And Post-Graduate Studies

GOVERNMENT has invited disadvantaged but academically gifted university students to apply for the Presidential scholarships for undergraduate and post-graduate programmes amid calls for learners from Matabeleland region to capitalise on the opportunity.

UZ, MSU, Africa University on Africa Top 200 Universities List

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Midlands State University (MSU) and Africa University (AU) have made it onto uniRank’s list of top 200 Universities in Africa. The uniRank list is based on internet metrics from independent sources without influence from any institutions reviewed. Read more

 

30 November 2023

30 Women Honoured for Their Impactful Research in Africa

The winners of this year’s L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talents Sub-Saharan Africa Awards included 25 PhD candidates and five post-doctoral researchers, who are spread across multiple fields of research to tackle major challenges to improve the quality of life in Africa and worldwide. Read more

301 Graduate at Nyadire Teachers’ College

Three hundred and one student teachers graduated with diplomas in Education at Nyadire Teachers’ College today. The new teachers were challenged to use acquired skills to transform themselves and their communities. Read more

Attacks on Academic Freedom Recorded Across Africa

War-torn Sudan is one of the 30% of countries in the world with the lowest levels of academic freedom, where scholars and university students frequently face pervasive attacks and universities are denied autonomy, according to Scholars at Risk (SAR), a global network that campaigns for the right of academics – and students – to think and express ideas without fear. Read more

Catalysing Precision Medicine by Africa, for Africans 

Africa is the continent with the most genetic diversity, but is gravely underrepresented in genomic research, with only 2 percent of global genomic data coming from people of African ancestry as of 2021. Read more

‘Disconnect’ Between Agriculture and Nutrition in Focus

Africa’s Green Revolution “has let us down”, not because agriculture on the continent is delivering insufficient quantities of food, but because, overall, the food that is being produced is not diverse and nutritious enough, a leading expert told a recent gathering at Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa. Read more

Engineering Emerges as an Area of Strength in Subject Rankings

A total of 112 universities in 17 African countries have been ranked in the 20th edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by subject 2024, an index that each year lists institutions’ performance in academic fields across 11 selected subject areas. Read more

Growing Numbers of Zimbabweans Choose U.S. Higher Education

The number of Zimbabwean students enrolled at United States colleges and universities increased by 18.7% over the previous academic year, according to the 2023 Open Doors Report issued by the Institute of International Education. Read more

Mental Health Research Initiative Grows Pool of Scientists

Six universities in Africa are continuing an African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) to strengthen a network of researchers whose scientific work focuses on mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNS). Read more

More Funding for Gwanda Varsity 

President Mnangagwa, who yesterday presided over the second graduation ceremony of Gwanda State University (GSU), one of the country’s youngest universities, promised to provide more funding for the development of the institution. Read more

Students from Africa Have Expectations and Doubts About COP28

During preparatory events ahead of COP28, youth perspectives have been deliberately sought and are expected to be amplified by the 2023 presidency which intends to “centre youth perspectives in international climate policy-making, setting a model for future COPs”, … Read more

Student Pens Story of Hell in Maximum Security Prison

University of Zimbabwe student union Organising Secretary Gamuchirai Chaburumunda was arrested and thrown into the country’s notorious Chikurubi Maximum Female Prison among murderers and robbers for staging a demonstration on campus. Read more

Students Sue University of Zimbabwe After Being Barred from Contesting in SRC Elections 

Eight students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have dragged the school authorities to court after they were blocked from contesting in the upcoming elections to select student leaders. Read More

Sweeping Cholera Outbreak Hits Several Tertiary Campuses

Some of Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning are experiencing a cholera outbreak sweeping across the country, with some students now being told to bring water from home as education authorities fail to supply the commodity. Read more

Universities Have Frontline Role to Play in Food Production

Stronger collaboration between stakeholders in the agriculture value chain to improve food production as well as fight against hunger and climate change in Africa is critical. Read more

Uproar Over GZU Auto Billing System 

Chaos has rocked the Great Zimbabwe University auto-billing system which is reportedly charging students living off the campus accommodation fees. Parents and students are up in arms with the university following this development. Read more

UZ Graduate in Revolutionary Lighting Concept

IN a remarkable tale of innovation and making community impact, a University of Zimbabwe electrical engineering graduate, Aluwaine Tanaka Manyonga has revolutionised the concept of lighting in Zimbabwean homes. Read more

Why is China a Popular Study Destination for Zimbabweans?

Peter Tagarira is one of thousands of African students who have made the great trek to study in China. He graduated in 2022 with a degree in international business management from the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) in Dalian in Liaoning province, Northeast China. Read more

 

31 October 2023

Campus Clubs Launch into the New Semester and Sign-up New Recruits

On Thursday, the 14^th of September 2023, Africa University held a vibrant and engaging Club and Societies Exhibition, organized by the Student Representative Council with Gaku Nakajima, the Secretary General spearheading the event. Read more

Chinese Enterprises Hold Job Fair for Zambian Students 

Chinese enterprises held a one-day job fair in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, for potential job seekers from various universities. The event, organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia and supported by the Zambia Chinese Association, attracted around 80 companies and 1,000 students … Read more

Commercial Ventures: Should Universities Set Up Businesses?

Reforms instituted in Zimbabwe’s public higher education sector in the past five years have contributed to commercial ventures cutting across 16 sectors, including the establishment of 100 student-run start-ups. Read more

Fire Destroys University of Zimbabwe Campus Block

On Friday morning, a destructive fire erupted at the University of Zimbabwe’s main campus, consuming a building that housed the physics department. Social media photos depicted the structure engulfed in flames. Read more

Priorities of New ‘African University’ Lack Substance

There has been an explosion of new universities on the African continent in the past 20 years. During this time, Ethiopia, alone, established 60 new universities. Read more

School to Teach Skills in Sustainable Energy Regulation

A meeting of African energy and transport ministers has endorsed the African School of Regulation (ASR) which has since received a US$1 million seed grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. Read more

Sikhala Demo: UZ Students Trial Date Set 

FOUR University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students are set to appear in court on November 16 for trial commencement on charges of staging an illegal demonstration calling for the release of incarcerated opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) politician, Job Sikhala. Read more

State Universities: Double Track Upgrade Imminent

State universities are a huge investment and an immense resource mostly created after independence. Quite justifiably, President Mnangagwa wants this national investment to produce results beyond just creating a well-educated population that can work in existing entities, and wants the resource to be used … Read more

The Chronicle President to Cap Nearly 5 000 at Great Zimbabwe University 

President Mnangagwa will today, Friday, preside over the 17th Graduation ceremony of the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU). The President who is also the Chancellor of all State Universities will cap a total of 4 899 students, … Read more

 

30 September 2023

Book Interrogates Pathways to Address Challenges in HE

A new thrust towards the search for the identity of African universities has been undertaken by 16 scholars, who have been probing how African academia could construct a progressive future that would address rampant challenges within the sector. Read more

South Africa, Cameroon, Kenya, Botswana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria

Construct Halls of Residence at All Our Institutions of Higher and Tertiary Education

Enrolment at local universities and colleges has been rising in recent years. Most of the institutions have full-time classes which learn during the day, parallel classes which learn later in the day as well as the block cohort which is on campus for two or so two-week sessions per semester. Read more

Dr Amai II: University of Zimbabwe Awards Auxillia Mnangagwa Honorary PhD

With the recent controversy of Grace Mugabe’s PhD still fresh in their minds, the University of Zimbabwe played it safe on Friday as another first lady took centre stage at its latest graduation. Read more

Education 5.0 Births 16 New Industries

Government has established more than 16 new industries within universities and polytechnics following the reconfiguration of higher and tertiary sectors to produce goods and services while contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-driven economy. Read more

Lupane State University Refuses to Reverse Fees Hike

Lupane State University (LSU) has refused to reduce recently increased fees during a meeting with the Student Executive Council (SEC) held in Bulawayo on 01 September 2023. Read more

 

31 August 2023

Africa is Home to the Oldest and Youngest Universities

The African continent is home to four of the world’s oldest universities and also to some of the planet’s youngest, first-ever universities in a given country, with some countries having established their first institutions less than 10 years ago. Read more

Africa-Russia HE Cooperation Plan Reflects Geopolitical Tussles

Africa and Russia are planning to cooperate more closely in the higher education and scientific research spheres, including formulating joint research and educational projects in nuclear, space, and digital technologies along with artificial intelligence, networking among Russian and African universities, and enhancing student and academic mobility. Read more

China/Wits Africa-China Reporting Project Workshop 2024 For African Journalists

China Dialogue Trust and the Wits Africa-China Reporting Project will hold a workshop on reporting on critical mineral resources for the global energy transition on 22-24 November 2023, at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. Read more

Deportation as a Tool to Stifle Academic Freedom

Academic freedom, which includes the freedom to conduct research, is not guaranteed in Zimbabwe. This reality was underscored by the deportation of researchers from the organisation Good Governance in Africa (GGA) ahead of the country’s 23 August crunch elections. Read more

Economic Decline Can Hamper Ambitious Student Housing Plans

Several news and research reports from 2011 to 2020 on the state of student housing in Zimbabwe, spanning over several years, concur that existing accommodation in the country is inadequate and is characterised by unsanitary conditions and overcrowding. Read more

Education 5.0 Births 16 New Industries 

Government has established more than 16 new industries within universities and polytechnics following the reconfiguration of higher and tertiary sectors to produce goods and services while contributing towards the creation of a knowledge-driven economy. Read more

Government Deports Outspoken Academic Ahead of Elections

Zimbabwe’s government has refused entry and deported British academic Professor Stephen Chan, accusing him of plotting to destabilise the country after the general elections on 23 August. Read more

Governments Should Value the Teaching Profession

The education sector on the African continent faces various challenges, some of which always recur. They include funding, strikes and protests, poor education systems (the leading challenge), weak education policies and socio-economic issues. Read more

GZU Lecturers in a Quandary as Varsity Suspends Payment of Hiked Medical Aid Premiums

Scores of Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) teaching staff and their dependents are in a fix after the college unilaterally stopped paying revised premiums to its medical insurers. Read more

HIV/AIDS Researchers Help to Drive Positive Societal Change

While still in high school, Zimbabwean Dr Pamela Mukwekwerere wrote in a motivation letter for selection to the country’s junior parliament that she wanted to be part of the team that would eventually discover a cure for HIV/AIDS. Read more

Huge Projects Under Way to Alleviate Student Housing Shortage

When Roland Tatenda Ndowa arrived on campus at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo, he soon realised how his fellow students were struggling to find accommodation. Read more

More Vocational Centres for Rural Areas

Government has pledged to construct more Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in rural areas as part of its thrust to promote rural industrialisation. Read more

Student Organisations Support Rival Presidential Candidates

Zimbabwe’s leading student unions are supporting rival presidential candidates in the general election set for 23 August, reflecting divisions in society. The student organisations differ about the extent to which the current president and his ruling party have advanced their affairs within the higher education sector. Read more

Tertiary Students Moan Fee Hikes

University students across Zimbabwe have bemoaned the recent hike in tuition and accommodation fees, while some have taken the matter to the courts. Other students failed to access their results after facing challenges in paying the fees. Read more

To Return Home or Not: A Sticky Question for Some Students

A range of factors influences African students to study abroad. However, the question of whether to return to their home countries after completing their studies, in most cases, still remains to be answered. Read more

Young Woman’s Passion for Technology, Environment Pays Off

Zimbabwean student Muongeni Tamara Manda has made history as the only woman from Africa to make it to the global top 30 emerging young space leaders. Read more

Zimbabwe Law Schools Battle Zambia in Moot Court Finals

A public interest environmental law organization, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is set to host moot court finals for Law Schools in Zimbabwe and Zambia on 2 and 3 August 2023 in Bulawayo. Read more

Zimbabwe University Selects Lawo

Midlands State University, one of Zimbabwe’s leading academic institutions, has installed Lawo’s IP-based radio equipment. B+I, Lawo’s partner in South Africa, integrated the system. Read more 

 

31 July 2023

Govt Transfers Tertiary Education Staff From PSC

Government has transferred lecturers and non-lecturing staff at technical and teachers colleges from the Public Service Commission (PSC) to the Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC) commissioned in 2021. Read more

Create Jobs, Govt Tells Poly Graduates

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology minister, Amon Murwira has implored students graduating from Polytechnics to make use of Education 5.0 to create jobs and new companies. Read more

The Incoming 2023/24 Student Representative Council Officially Handed Leadership…

Friday 14 July 2023 marked the official end of the term of service of the outgoing Student Representative Council (SRC) leadership led by Mr. Amos Dobyo from Nigeria, as they handed over stewardship of the student body to the incoming executive. Read more

Nelson Mandela University to Host Thousands of Youths in a Coding Tournament on Mandela Day 

As the country takes steps to boost Math, Science and Technology in schools, Nelson Mandela University, Tangible Africa, and the Leva Foundation are set to host thousands of young people in a coding tournament on Mandela Day. Approximately 10,000 learners from across Africa and abroad will participate in the event, … Read more

Chinese Polytechnic Expresses Interest in Working with Zim Tertiary Institutions 

A Chinese Polytechnic college, Ningbo, says it is eager to deepen relations with Zimbabwean tertiary institutions after a successful twinning project with Harare Polytechnic. Ningbo, is one of the polytechnics in China that majors in vocational training imparting skills to students. Read more

NUST Students in Top Six Nuclear Science, Technology Competition.

A GROUP of three (3) final year students studying Applied Physics at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have secured a spot among the top six groups in Africa participating at the 2023 International Students’ Competition on the benefits of Nuclear Sciences organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Read more

UZ Students Granted Bail 

FOUR University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students arrested two months ago for disorderly conduct were yesterday granted $500 000 bail each by High Court judge Justice Lucy Mungwari.The students were arrested for protesting the continued incarceration of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change legislator Job Sikhala. Read more

 

31 May 2023

Power, Water Cuts Leave Zim Students Stranded 

Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning are reeling from the effects of power cuts, a development that is raising the cost of running a university, with adverse effects on students. Read more

UZ Produces Nutritious Sorghum Pasta

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has made a breakthrough in the food industry after it produced sorghum-based pasta. The innovative breakthrough was made by one of the university’s students, Blessing Gwekwe, who is doing a Doctorate Degree in the Faculty of Sciences under the Department of Nutrition, … Read more

 

30 April 2023

Africa’s Universities Are Surging in the World Rankings

Ten years ago, the then-head of the University of Cape Town, Max Price, made a powerful case for Africa to compete against the best in the world in the global university rankings. Read more

Binga High Science Subjects Pass Rate Improves

BINGA High School in Matabeleland North province has started recording an improved pass rate in Mathematics and Science subjects following a partnership with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) under the Schools Enrichment Programme (NUSTSEP). Read more

Cabinet Approves Introduction of Work-for-Fees Programme 

Cabinet has approved plans to introduce a programme called Work-for-Fees in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. The work-for-fees programme is aimed at helping students from vulnerable backgrounds. Read more

Carl Joshua Ncube in University of Zimbabwe’s Innovation Hub 

Popular comedian, Carl Joshua Ncube is one of the most innovative men in the precinct and such innovative dexterity has led to him being part of the University of Zimbabwe’s Innovation Hub. Read more 

Commonwealth University to Honour Eminent Zimbabwean Scholar

Dr Gibson Mandishona, a leading research scientist, mathematician and statistician has been named amongst the most eminent scientists and technologists who will be honoured at the Dubai Leadership Summit that will be held in July this year. Read more

Confucius Institutes Increase as Another Opens in Djibouti

China is rapidly expanding its language and cultural centres – known as Confucius Institutes – in both number and capacity in Africa, in a move that appears to harness language diplomacy to serve its broader geopolitical and economic agendas. The Djibouti institute is the latest one to open. Read more

Defence Varsity Open to Everyone

The Zimbabwe National Defence University has debunked a misconception that it only enrolls members of the uniformed forces.In fact, most of those enrolled at the university are civilians. Read more

Inbound and outbound student trends for South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco

Universities and colleges in the West and Eastern Europe are competing intensely for students in Africa to further diversify their campuses. Outbound mobility is soaring in Nigeria and increasing steadily in countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and Ghana. Read more

Lecturers To Go for Industrial Attachment 

LECTURERS at tertiary institutions are now expected to go for industrial attachment to enable them to troubleshoot what is obtaining in industry and produce quality graduates, with the University of Zimbabwe already implementing the programme. Read more

MSU Administrators Trained on Best Service Delivery Practices

To enhance the University’s Administrators’ service delivery, professionalism, customer care and work ethics, Midlands State University Human Resources Department conducted a seminar for administrators… Read more

MSU Engages Binga Communities on Entrepreneurship and Self-Sufficiency

As part of the University’s community engagement efforts to develop an entrepreneurial culture in society, Midlands State University Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation conducted an Entrepreneurial Skills and Self-Sufficiency Workshop… Read more

MSU Excels at the Inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair

Midlands State University scooped various outstanding awards and recognitions at the auspicious and momentous inaugural Presidential Innovation Fair held from the 19th to the 20th of April 2023 at the Harare International Conference Centre. Read more

Outstanding Tertiary Students Bonoured 

The ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development hosted the Presidential Students Awards Ceremony on April 13 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) under the theme Promoting and rewarding excellence in higher and tertiary education institutes. Read more

Power and Water Cuts Leave Students and Staff Stranded

Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning are reeling from the effects of power cuts, a development that is raising the cost of running a university, with adverse effects on students. Read more

Red Tape, Tepid Political Will Hamper Starting Private Heis

Exorbitant tuition fees are the biggest challenge facing students at higher education institutions in Zimbabwe, a study that traced the various stages involved in registering, licensing and accrediting a private higher education institution in the country, found. Read more

Twenty-Seven (27) RUFORUM Member Universities Ranked Among the Top 100 Universities in Africa.

Times Higher Education remains the common league table for universities globally.  The ranking rates university performance using 13 indicators measuring teaching, research, research impact, innovation and international outlook. Read more

‘Varsities Must Take Lead in Innovations’

President Mnangagwa has challenged institutions of higher and tertiary education to take the lead in innovations aimed at producing goods and services in line with the “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo” philosophy. Read more

Zimpapers Hosts Tourism Meets Tertiary Institutions Symposium

While the country’s literacy rate is high, the national skills audit shows that we have a serious skills gap. In a normal set up the skills and literacy levels should be the same but at the moment that is not the case hence the reconfiguration of the education system from education 3.0 to education 5.0. Read more

 

28 February 2023

Church to Set Up Multi-Campus University in Matabeleland

A Zimbabwean church is setting up a private university that will have several rural campuses in the country’s Matabeleland region. Read more

Desperate Shortage of Places at Medical Schools Reported

Only 1% of students seeking to be enrolled in Zimbabwe’s medical schools get placed due to an acute shortage of training facilities, resulting in limited access to such training programmes. Read more

Dodgy Foreign Universities cost Zimbabwean Students

SOME Zimbabwean students are losing a lot of money studying at foreign universities but their professional qualifications are not recognised locally due to the quality of their degree programmes. Read more

Former UZ Vice Chancellor Cleared of Fraud

Former University of Zimbabwe vice chancellor Levi Nyagura has been removed from remand in a case he was facing several counts of fraud. This follows the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s failure to prosecute him four years after he was arrested. Read more

King George VI Partners GZU to Offer Sign Language Courses

KING George VI Centre in Bulawayo has partnered with the Great Zimbabwe University to offer sign language courses. According to a post on the King George VI Centre Facebook page, the content would cover three levels of study. Read more

Minister Berates ‘Useless’ Professors Failing to Write Books; Says US$ Millions for Literature Development Idle 

Higher Education Minister, Amon Murwira has laid into university professors for failing to write relevant books and literature in order to realign curricula to proffer solutions to national challenges. Read more

Minister Murwira Summoned Over Poor Salaries

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development minister Amon Murwira has been summoned to appear before Parliament over the poor working conditions of university workers including lecturers. Read more

Student Housing Complex Completed, more Projects to Follow

A multipurpose, three-block student complex, covering about 24,500 square metres and expected to accommodate 1,032 people, has been completed in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – five years after work started on the building. Read more

Trends for African Students Seeking Education Abroad

A new report from Campus France highlights how African students leave their home countries due to limited capacity in domestic higher education systems. By 2050, the college-aged population is expected to double, but only 9% are currently enrolled in higher education. Read more

Varsities’ Law Curricula Need Review

Newly elected Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) president Rumbidzai Matambo has suggested that the country’s law curricula must be revised to satisfy new industry trends. Read more

Universities Flooded with Doctor Wans

Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning are struggling to absorb an overflowing number of applicants aspiring to study medicine and other health-related courses, with only one percent of candidates being successful. Read more

UZ Student Drags Father to Court Over Unpaid Fees

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) final year student, Stanley Rusanga, has dragged his father to the maintenance court after he failed to pay tuition fees for his last semester. Rusanga said he was now on the verge of deferring his studies over outstanding fees. Read more

ZEGU Moot Court Team Off to India for Global Contest

The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) law students are set to represent the nation at the esteemed K.K Luthra memorial moot court competition, taking place at the University of New Delhi in India from 17 to 19 February. Read more

 

31 January 2023

2 429 Graduate from AOH/ ZOU Programmes in Mash West 

At least 2 429 residents of Mashonaland West Province yesterday graduated in various disciplines under the ongoing partnership between First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation and the Zimbabwe Open University. Read more

African Varsities Engage in Agro-Food Systems

A grouping of major African universities, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is set to engage governments on strengthening Africa’s agri-food systems in the Post Covid-19 era at their 18th annual meeting set for today. Read more

Calls to Re-Energise the African Crop Science Society

The research community, in general, and agricultural scientists and institutions, in particular, have been called upon to join efforts in revitalising one of the most critical local research associations, the 30-year-old African Crop Science Society (ACSS). Read more

Manicaland Benefits from AOH/ZOU Life-Changing Courses

A total of 2 060 graduands from across Manicaland were conferred with certificates after completing various life-changing short courses through the Angel of Hope Foundation’s partnership with Zimbabwe Open University in Mutare… Read more

Nawangwe Asked to Explain Violent Makerere Convocation Election 

Makerere University Council Chairperson, Lorna Magara has asked the Vice Chancellor Barnabus Nawangwe to explain the chaotic scenes that marred the elections for the institution’s Convocation Executive Committee. Read more

New Varsity on the Cards in Matabeleland

Matabeleland South Province is set to have a third university following plans by the Brethren in Christ Church (BICC) to open an institution of higher and tertiary education in Mtshabezi, Gwanda District. Read more

NUST Medicine Enrolment Increases

Destiny Mlilo started his life-long ambition of being a medical doctor on Tuesday as part of 60 first-year School of Medicine students at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust)…Read more

Open Access Publishing Deal for Low-, Middle-Income Countries

Academics based in 70 low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, will be able to have their primary research published Gold Open Access by Nature – at no cost – thus enabling their scientific work to be permanently and freely available online for anyone to read. Read more

PE for Tertiary Institutions Launched

The Sport Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ) president Russell Mhiribidi has praised the partnership between the Government and Finland to conduct physical education (PE) in tertiary institutions. Read more

Ruling Party Offers Training in Its Ideology to Lecturers

Zimbabwean lecturers have undergone an ideological orientation training programme facilitated by an institution run by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF party, with plans under way to compel all first-year university students to also attend the lessons. Read more

Universities Only Consider 15 Points as the Highest

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has revealed that local universities consider only 15 points as the highest points attainable at A Level. This is regardless of how many points the student would have scored. Read more

U.S.$17 Million Students Complex Complete 

The Government, through the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), has completed the construction of the US$17 million massive student accommodation complex in Bulawayo, which is now ready for occupation. Read more

Youth Leadership Critical in Climate Change Conversation

Youths are capable of leading the climate change conversation and can come up with brilliant initiatives regardless of age. What the youth need is space and a chance to show their maximum potential. Read more

Work for Fees Programme is ‘Good But not Effective’

A Work for Fees programme introduced by Zimbabwe’s government has helped some students who cannot afford to pay for their studies, but higher education stakeholders have pointed out that the programme cannot absorb all students who are in financial need and may not be an effective replacement for the student loan scheme. Read more

 

31 December 2022

3 New Innovative Units Usher UZ to a Higher Level

Three new innovative units were commissioned by President Mnangagwa at the University of Zimbabwe yesterday – a major international centre for surgical simulation and training in non-invasive surgery, which will draw in students from across Africa; … Read more

Calls on Governments to Increase HE Funding Grow Louder

Africa’s youth has to be at the centre of the region’s clamour for economic transformation. This has been a clarion call from multiple policy and education platforms during 2022, the latest being the high-level Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, or RUFORUM, …Read more

Comedy in Africa Used to ‘Get Even’ with Political Elite…

In the Western academic tradition, the study of humour has developed from the time Plato (428-348 BCE) taught students in Athens how to inject irony into political debate into a subject that through the centuries has attracted the attention of scholars in anthropology, film production, literature, political science, philosophy, psychology, religion and sociology. Read more

Cutting-Edge Climate Change Curriculum Enters Phase Two

The Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) Climate Change Steering Group recently endorsed the finalised version of a climate change and sustainable development curriculum and digital ecosystem, which SARUA revised and which will be updated, under phase two, in 2023. Read more

Government Adds Impetus to NUST Projects

Government is placing special attention on construction works at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) as it is poised to be a bedrock of the country’s industrialisation and mordenisation, which has seen it receiving the highest budgetary allocation. Read more

Great Zimbabwe University Students Venture into Hospitality Business

GREAT Zimbabwe University (GZU) students have established tourism and hospitality business at the institution to cater for tourists while generating income and contributing to the growth of the economy. Read more

HE Institutions Need to Step up the Implementation of SDGs

Higher education institutions can actively contribute to the achievement of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through teaching, research, community engagement, non-academic services and management practices. Read more

Honorary Doctorate for Zimbabwe’s First Lady Criticised

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has presented his wife, Auxillia, with an honorary doctorate for her contribution to charitable work in the country – a development criticised by academics. Read more

Polytechnic Bans the Wearing of Certain Items of Clothing

A Zimbabwean polytechnic has banned 15 types of clothing on its campus and during the college’s off-campus functions, saying students must dress as per the trade they are studying towards – but female students are mostly affected by the new rules. Read more

Power Crisis Takes Toll on Students During Their Exams

A countrywide power crisis that has gripped Zimbabwe and is expected to continue into 2023 has taken its toll on students who have been studying and writing their examinations. Read more

Professor Adipala Ekwamu: A Science Ambassador of Note

Professor Adipala Ekwamu is one of the most influential figures in higher education in Africa today, having founded the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and serving as its executive secretary for nearly two decades. Read more

Scholarships Help Students Change Africa

Berthia Mugwagwa, 20, knew exactly which university she wanted to attend to make her dream of running a large farm come true.”Africa University has the best agricultural university in Africa,” she said. “I told my mom it was my only option.” Read more

Son Graduates on Mother’s Behalf: Mum Died 3 Months Before Her Graduation 

AN emotional and heart-breaking scene played out at the Midlands State University graduation ceremony yesterday when a 23-year-old man walked onto the stage, bowed before President Mnangagwa and got capped on behalf of his mother who died in September this year. Read more

Specialist Training of Health Workers is Urgent

Some universities in Eastern and Southern African countries have programmes for health workers offering advanced degrees that are not accredited by professional bodies, a situation that is misleading to potential candidates who would want to be recognised as specialists in their fields. Read more

The 18th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting 2022 – Harare, Zimbabwe…

The 2022 edition of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Africa, (RUFORUM) is underway in Harare, Zimbabwe with the session on “Building a Movement of Change makers in Africa”, being the highlight of the continent’s blue riband academic and research event… Read more

Twenty (20) Winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2022…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa. Read more

UNESCO Launches Training on a Systems Thinking Tool to Promote Inclusive Education

To UNESCO every learner matters equally. The mission of its education sector is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Read more

University of Zimbabwe Student Scores 40 Distinctions

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) undergraduate student, Munashe Gahadza, scored a record-breaking 40 distinctions out of a possible 44 courses to obtain a first-class BSc Honours degree in Actuarial Science. Read more

Universities Urged to Drive Africa’s Development Agenda 

Government has urged universities to drive the African development agenda by answering to human needs through scientific research and innovation. Agenda 2063 is Africa’s development blueprint to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development over a 50-year period. Read more

Varsity Students Fight Fees Hikes 

High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi has reserved judgment in a matter where University of Zimbabwe students are challenging the institution’s decision… Read more

Zimbabwe Hosts Pan African Universities Forum for Agric Research 

Zimbabwe is this week hosting the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) which aims to explore ways to produce high – performing graduates and high-quality research that meets new and changing needs for farmers on the continent. Read more

 

30 November 2022

15% Surge in Zimbabwe Students to US

The number of Zimbabweans studying in the United States has increased by 15%, the US has said. A statement issued by the US Embassy yesterday, the US said Zimbabwe was the second leading country in sub-Saharan Africa per capita in terms of sending students to study in the US, … Read more

5,000 Students Barred from MSU Graduation

Midlands State University (MSU) has torched anger after barring at least 5,200 of its 6,500-student complement from physically attending their graduation ceremony citing the need to comply with Covid-19 regulations which place a cap on the size of public gatherings. Read more

Advances in the Health Sciences Noted

A total of 96 universities in 17 African countries have been ranked in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 by Subject that lists achievements in academic fields across 11 selected major subject areas. Read more

Auxillia Mnangagwa Offers Free Courses at Zimbabwe Open University

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa (under the Angel of Hope Foundation) has embarked on skills capacitation program aimed at capacitating Zimbabweans through short courses ranging from Business, Science, Education and Agriculture. Read more

Challenges Embodied in SDGs Need Transdisciplinary Approach

The importance of the co-creation of knowledge involving African policy-makers, scientists and agricultural experts to transform African agricultural and food systems in the context of climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Africa Agenda 2063 was emphasised during a round-table discussion on 14 November at COP27. Read more 

Chief Mutasa (67) Enrolls for Law Degree

As Africa University opened doors to its School of Law early this week, 67-year-old Acting Chief Mutasa was among the first 20 students that have enrolled for the Bachelor of Law Degree. Read more

Climate Change and SDG Education to Target Million Youths

An estimated million African university students are set to benefit from a digital education programme on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2023-24. Read more 

Marriage and Academics: A Tightrope in Traditional Societies

Figures from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) show that only 28.2% of PhD holders in the country are women compared with 71.8% of men. Read more

Mubs Principal Wants University to Diversify Sports

Prof Ali Waswa Balunywa, the Principal Makerere University Business School (Mubs) has urged the university’s sports department to diversify its approach towards sport in order to build a stronger sporting institution. Read more

NUST Enrolment Drive Seeks to Curb Zimbabwe’s Critical Skills Deficit

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has increased the enrolment of medical students and introduced new degree programmes in an effort to counter the country’s critical skills deficit. Read more

Passion to Learn Guided Woman from a Child Marriage to a PhD

Child marriage is one of the most widespread forms of violence against children in Zimbabwe. One woman out of three aged 20 to 49 was married before the age of 18, and 5% of girls are married before the age of 15, according to UNICEF. Read more

President Lays Foundation Stone at Gwanda Varsity 

President Mnangagwa yesterday laid foundation stones for the construction of three transformative buildings at Gwanda State University (GSU) as the institution positions itself to champion development through research and innovation in agriculture and mining. Read more

Staff Exodus Hits State Universities

A MASSIVE brain drain has hit the country’s State universities with lecturers leaving the country in droves in protest over poor salaries, NewsDay Weekender has learnt. Read more 

Staff Shortage Hits Zim Universities 

The country’s institutions of higher learning have been hit by acute staff shortages caused by mass exodus of academics due to poor remuneration and working conditions, NewsDay has been informed. Read more

Students Call for Climate-Conscious University Curriculums

Students are calling on African countries in general and Zimbabwe, in particular, to include aspects of climate change in the curriculums of higher education institutions. Read more

Students Help to Propel Zimbabwe, Uganda into Space

Zimbabwe and Uganda launched satellites into space on 7 November as beneficiaries of the Joint Global Multi-Nation BIRDS Satellite project, BIRDS-5 specifically, which has been a collaborative project involving these countries, …Read more

Time Up for Colonial Education

MR Qhelani Nyoni from Gwanda is a recipient of the US$1 000 Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award after he emerged as the Best Male graduating student at Gwanda State University in Matabeleland South. The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award is awarded to the best male and female students graduating at each State university. Read more

Top Cop in Court for Leaking UZ Law Exam

Provincial Intelligence Officer for Harare, Superintendent Vigai Maunganidze on Monday appeared in court after he was caught with a University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Law examination paper. Read more

Twenty (20) winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2022…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa… Read more

University of Zimbabwe Builts New Bus Terminus

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has completed refurbishment of its bus terminus, turning it into a modern facility. Built at a cost of about $180 million and designed by UZ students, the facility comprises bathrooms, shops, sheds, seats, and will be running on solar, with power points that have charging ports. Read more

University Of Zimbabwe Set to Start Producing Vehicle Registration Plates 

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has finished refurbishing a factory shell and installing a production plant that will produce vehicle registration plates. Read more 

UZ Completes Modern Bus Terminus

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has completed refurbishment of its bus terminus, turning it into a modern facility.Built at a cost of about $180 million and designed by UZ students, the facility comprises bathrooms, shops, sheds, seats, and will be running on solar, with power points that have charging ports. Read more

 

31 October 2022

Africa University Celebrates 30 Years

Africa University has a major role to play in the development of the continent, said the keynote speaker at the United Methodist institution’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Read more

AU Lauds Govt on Private Universities

Newly-inaugurated Africa University (AU) vice-chancellor Peter Mageto has lauded government for allowing the establishment of private universities in the country saying it ensured that most Zimbabweans realise their higher education dreams. Read more

Bindura Varsity Female Hostels Achieve World-Class Standards

The state-of-the-art female hostels built at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) have given the institution a new depth of character. Luxurious and tastefully decorated, 352-bed hostels are certainly a confidence booster for the female students, who for long had used substandard structures. Read more

Business-Modelling PPPs for Vibrant University Infrastructure Development 

Zimbabwe’s knowledge and skills sector, largely dominated by state universities and colleges, is undergoing critical transformation following adoption of “Education 5.0” by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. Read more

Catholic University Spreads to Hwange Diocese

Enrolment at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe (CUZ) Hwange campus’ academic programmes has started in earnest at the Diocese’s St Josephine Bakhita Primary School. Read more

Chinhoyi Model to Contest at Miss Africa Universities

Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) student Moreblessing Chinyandura has started preparations for the Miss Africa Universities to be held in Abuja, Nigeria in December. Read more

Cops Bash GZU Students

Heavily armed riot police details bashed protesting students at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Social Sciences Campus in Masvingo.  ZINASU Students were handing over a petition denouncing the unjustified fee increase when police arrived. Read more

Economic Crisis Contributes to the Fake Degree Industry

According to UNESCO’s web-based platform ETICO, academic fraud is on the rise. In Zimbabwe, several cases of academic fraud have been reported in the media. Read more

Experts Weigh in on Higher Education Challenges

Experts and scholars in African higher education say insufficient research and knowledge transfer, as well as economic inequalities are the major constraints in attaining higher education in Africa, resulting in most universities churning out unskilled graduates. Read more

First Lady Bemoans GBV, Sexual Abuse in Tertiary Institutions

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has voiced concern over the disturbingly high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment cases in tertiary education institutions.Combating GBV, she said, had become a global priority and there were efforts and high-level commitments towards addressing the issue. Read more

Govt Says Fees in Local Tertiary Institutions are the Cheapest in the Region

The government says fees at local tertiary institutions were lower compared to their regional counterparts, despite the recent tuition fee hike by over 450%. Read more

GZU Students Arrested Over Fees Demonstration; Three Fined for Criminal Nuisance

Six Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students were on Monday arrested for allegedly demonstrating against a recent fees hike by the institution.The six students are; Kimberly Joni, Ernest Liyala, Millenium Mufiri, Courage Gava, Shadreck Chidyamakuni and Brendon Tagara. Read more

Mass Resignations Hit Chinhoyi University of Technology; …

There is high attrition of academic staff at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) due to poor salaries and other conditions of service.The resignations of senior staffers, including professors, leaving for other better rewarding higher and tertiary institutions, locally and abroad, is threatening excellent education… Read more

Midlands State University Win the Zimbabwe National International Humanitarian Law Moot Court competition

Midlands State University has won the Zimbabwe National International Humanitarian Law Moot Court competition co-hosted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI). Read more

MSU Fees Up by 407%

Midlands State University (MSU) has approved a 407 percent tuition fee increase that will see students from the different faculties paying between $285 000 to $359 000 per semester. Before the increase, they were paying between $50 000 to $81 000.In a notice, MSU deputy registrar academic affairs, … Read more

MSU to Represent Zim at IHL Moot Court 

The Midlands State University’s all-female moot team will next month represent Zimbabwe at the All-Africa International Humanitarian Law Moot Court competitions in Arusha, Tanzania, after winning the national finals held at the High Court in Harare last Friday. Read more

New Cinematography Institution to Boost Film Industry

The first-ever tertiary training institution for cinematography in the Central Africa sub-region, the Higher Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Professionals of Central Africa (ISCAC), has opened in Cameroon. Read more

Number of Ranked Universities in Africa Increases to 97

African universities have made dramatic progress in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 as, for the first time, 97 universities from 17 countries, up from 71 last year, have been rated to be part of the best universities globally, with 10 of them in the top 500. Read more

Research Ethics of Science, Innovation and Technology in Africa

Since the 1970s, UNESCO build knowledge and reinforce awareness linkages among ethicists, scientists, research institutions, policymakers, academia, judges, journalists, civil society as well as the general public to assist Member States in enacting sound and reasoned policies and setting up of institutional frameworks to address ethical issues in science and technology. Read more

Teachers’ Unions Wrap ‘Reckless’ Minister

Teachers’ unions are demanding the dismissal of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development minister Amon Murwira for calling on the new graduates to open own schools to cater for the estimated 4 000 schools’ deficit in the country. Read more

Twenty (20) Winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa… Read more

Varsity Cashing in on Masau Fruit 

Innovative hubs introduced by President Mnangagwa in 2018, have proved to be a game-changer as traditional fruits like masau are being turned into high end products, while reducing the country import bill through production of water purification chemicals. Read more

World University Rankings 2023: UI, UNILAG, Covenant Universities Make Africa’s Top 20 

The latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings has ranked three Universities in Nigeria among the first top 20 institutions in the African continent. In the latest rankings Published by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 25, African Universities made debut appearances in the growing list of entries… Read more

Young Student is Mapping the Way for Women to Geomatics

At the age of 23, Zimbabwean geomatics student Letwin Pondo was the youngest participant at two geospatial conferences in Italy earlier this year. She is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the department of surveying and geomatics at Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University (MSU). Read more

Zim Speeds Up Medical Training 

Zimbabwe is expediting the training of specialist health personnel to produce a critical mass attuned to the needs of the people while at the same time sustaining the country’s development momentum that has seen transformative projects being implemented timeously, … Read more

 

30 September 2022

16 UZ Students Arrested for Protesting Over Tuition Fees Hike 

Sixteen (16) University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students were arrested Monday for participating in a demonstration at the Mt Pleasant campus over a recent tuition fee hike. Read more

Another Fee Increase Sets Off ‘Fees Must Fall’ Protests

Zimbabwean state universities have hiked fees by as much as 700% in some instances, a move that triggered a massive ‘fees must fall’ demonstration at the University of Zimbabwe, the country’s premier institution of higher learning, in the capital Harare. Read more

Amnesty International Condemns Crackdown on Protesting UZ Students; Calls for End to Arbitrary Arrests 

Amnesty International (AI) has condemned the ongoing crackdown on University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students, who Monday staged a peaceful protest over unilateral tuition fees hikes. Read more

ARUA to Add Seven Centres of Excellence in the Next Year

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) will increase the number of Centres of Excellence it runs from 13 to 20 in the next 12 months in response to the need for increased university-led knowledge output in priority scientific areas. Read more

Decolonial Scholarship: Do Academics in Africa have Clay Feet?

Many high-ranking scholars in Africa are not merely fascinated by the historical colonial domination agenda but are the intellectual and active guardians of ideas and objectives of neocolonialism and coloniality that suppress academic freedom, creativity and innovation in African universities and other tertiary institutions in the continent. Read more

Government Introduces ‘Work for Fees’ Initiative for Underprivileged Tertiary Students

Government has introduced a “work for fees” programme targeting students at State universities who are from underprivileged families and are finding it difficult to raise tuition fees. Read more

Government Engages Universities in Teacher Capacity Programme

THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has expressed concern over the low uptake in the Teacher Capacity Development programme at universities. Read more

Grassroots Participation Needed to Tackle Climate Issues

“The global climate crisis requires a society which can foster solutions to environmental problems and appreciate the domestication of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Read more 

Mining and Minerals have had Limited Educational Benefits

The story of mineral discoveries and mining in Africa being a social curse for the continent is likely to persist after researchers at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank recently found no conclusive evidence of intergenerational mobility into higher education in most African countries and districts where extractions of mineral resources occur. Read more

Minister Defends UZ’s 1000% Fee Hike

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira has defended the hefty fee hike at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) saying local tertiary institutions’ fees were too low. Read more

New Varsity Fees: State to Reduce Burden 

Universities are justified in reviewing fees given the huge costs associated with learning, but the Government will pursue strategies to keep them affordable, President Mnangagwa has said. State universities recently announced an upward review of fees as the old ones were considered untenable. Read more

MSU Research and Innovation Expose Begins

The 2022 Midlands State University (MSU) research and innovation expose started on Wednesday with researchers showcasing new innovations that could help transform Zimbabwe’s economy into a knowledge and innovation-driven one. Read more

No One Denied a Degree by Poverty

There has been a lot of criticism of the new fees being charged by Zimbabwean State universities and even some attempts to hijack debate on the topic for political purposes, but the position is that Zimbabwe’s university fees are the cheapest in the region and there is a loan facility available. Read more

Tertiary Institutes Embrace Value Addition in Education 5, 0

Government’s call for higher and tertiary institutions to transform from the traditional tripartite way of doing business – teaching, research and community service and migrate towards problem-solving and value creation is starting to bear fruits …Read more

TVET Design Should Link with a Country’s Available Resources

Countries in Africa need to rethink the design of their Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) so that it is relevant to the skills and knowledge that are in demand in their respective nations. Read more

Universities Now Driving the Country’s Industrialisation Agenda

The country’s universities and colleges are now leading the country’s industrialisation programme and this is attributed to the Government’s decision to adopt Education 5.0. Read more

Universities Adjust Fees Structures

STATE universities in the country have raised their tuition fees in line with regional trends to cover operational costs. Lupane State University (LSU) released their new fee’s structure effective 1 August 2022 with the fees ranging from $179 000 to a high of $472 500. Read more

US$30 million for Lupane State University Students Accommodation

The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) has released US$30m for the construction of Lupane State University student accommodation and work has already begun in earnest on the seven-hectare piece of land as the government forges ahead with infrastructure development at all State universities,…Read more

UZ Medicine Enrolment Mired in Corruption Controversy; ‘C’ Grades Paying for Places to Study as Doctors 

The enrolment of students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), particularly in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, is mired in controversy following allegations of corruption. Sources at the university, who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com on condition of anonymity, … Read more

UZ Student in Court for ‘Threatening to Burn University Down’ 

A first year Pharmacy student at the University of Zimbabwe has been locked up on allegations of threatening to burn down the school’s library.Tsitsi Muramba (20) is facing incitement charges. Read more

Young Scientists Want Machine Learning Revolution in Africa

Cameroon national Loic Elnathan Tiokou Fangang concluded his masters degree in mathematical sciences at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) earlier in 2022 and, as he awaits an opportunity to pursue a PhD in machine learning, he believes the dream of the institute’s founders – of producing the next Einstein – has already been accomplished. Read more

Zim Students Ask Court to Suspend Hike in Tuition Fees

Students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), have filed an urgent court application at the High Court for an order compelling the institution to suspend a hike in tuition fees. Read more

 

31 August 2022

12 Tertiary Institutions Participate in SASI Debate Competition

12 tertiary institutions participated in the Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) organized Speak and Solve Initiative (SASI) debate competition held in Harare… Read more

18th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting to be Held at Harare…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) will hold its 18^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) from 12-16 December 2022 at the Harare International Conference Centre in Zimbabwe under the theme “Sustaining African Industrialization through Innovative Agricultural Research, Training and Outreach in the Post COVID-19 Era”. Read more

Fear that National Youth Service can Erode Academic Freedom

Student leaders in Zimbabwe are concerned that the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe National Youth Service (NYS) may compromise universities’ enrolment processes and threaten academic freedom in the country’s higher and tertiary education institutions. Read more

Government Support for Universities Hailed

Government support to universities in the country has provided them opportunities to showcase their potential in innovation and technology, a senior official has said. Read more

GZU Hikes Accommodation Fees; Students Union Engages Ministry for Reprieve

GREAT Zimbabwe University (GZU) has announced new accommodation fees for the upcoming semester which is set to commence early next month with students having to pay not less than US$200. Read more

Lupane State University Wins Enactus Competition, …

Lupane State University (LSU) won the top award at the Enactus awards ceremony organised and hosted by Boost Fellowship in Harare on Friday to walk away with $400 000. Read more

Mental Health Advocate’s YouTube Channel Helps Peers

After taking note of several suicides on campus every year and little mental health support from the university authorities, a student at Zimbabwe’s National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Lancelot Matange Jnr, decided in 2019 to take action to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives. Read more

Musawenkosi Saurombe: From humble beginnings to become youngest PhD graduate in Africa

Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Industrial Psychology Degree at age 23, becoming the youngest female PhD. graduate in Africa in 2017. Read more

RUFORUM Board Appoints a New Executive Secretary

Professor Theresia Nkuo-Akenji, RUFORUM Board Chair and Vice Chancellor University of Bamenda in Cameroon today announced the appointment of Dr. Patrick Okori as the next RUFORUM Executive Secretary effective 01 January 2023. Read more

School Leadership Event in Sierra Leone Draws Experts Across Africa

Education Development Trust (EDT) co-hosted a knowledge exchange event last month, bringing together key stakeholders and policymakers from Sierra Leone’s education sector. Read more

Solution to Africa’s HE Problem Lies Beyond Campus Gates

The responsibility for producing an effective higher education system that can support Africa’s development should rest primarily with national governments and societies rather than the universities themselves, … Read more

Students Appreciate UNESCO’s STEM Boot Camp

A number of experts in engineering graced the event, and interacted with the students, and providing the much-needed career guidance. These include the minister for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation Development in Zimbabwe, … Read more

Students Develop Mobile Apps to Help them with Life Skills

Forty university students worked together during two simultaneous workshops on mobile apps that will be used as tools to access information about topics such as sexual and reproductive health, safety on campus, mental health and well-being as well as career guidance. Read more

Students from Africa May Soon Start to Return to China

China is preparing to welcome back students from Africa who have been unable to return to the country since they left following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Read more

Students Make Their Mark as Future-Generation Space Leaders

For Kumbirai Nicholas Matingo, a final-year surveying and geomatics student at Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University (MSU), the building of a satellite ground-station at his learning institution – the first at a local university – will count as one of his lifetime achievements. Read more

UNICAF University Graduates 350 Students from 44 Countries

UNICAF University has today graduated 350 students from 44 countries who have been awarded with doctorate, bachelors and masters degrees. The event took place at BICC in Lilongwe and was attended by the students from the country and others from Democratic of Congo ,Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia among others. Read more

UZ Innovators Shine at Award Ceremony

University of Zimbabwe academic researchers and students walked away with cash prizes at the just ended 2022 UZ Research Innovation and Industrialisation Week awards ceremony. Read more

UZ Students Build Drones to Aid Country’s Critical Sectors

FIVE University of Zimbabwe students studying aeronautical engineering came together to develop four drones, formally known as unmanned aerial vehicles, that can be used both in border security surveillance, crop fumigation, filming and videography and other useful functions. Read more

UZ Students Exhibit Their Innovations Including Drones

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) is holding exhibitions from its Innovation Hub Starter Ups with a number of items on display. Meanwhile, some of the items on display include an ultrasonic cylinder device which detects the level of gas in a gas cylinder, it can also be linked to a mobile phone. Read more

ZINASU Blasts UZ’s US$616 Accommodation Fees Hike

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has increased accommodation fees from ZWL$71 000 to US$616 or the equivalent in local currency for the 2022 second semester (August to December). Read more

 

31 July 2022

Life Gets Tough for Tertiary Level Students; Union Says Loan Facility Inaccessible Due to Nearly Impossible Conditions

Life for tertiary level students is becoming increasingly difficult due to economic hardships, an official has said. Read more

Robert Mugabe School of Education Nears Completion

The multi-million-dollar Robert Mugabe School of Education at Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo Province, named after President Mugabe because of his passion to develop the country’s education system, is nearing completion with classes expected to start in August. Read more

Students Activism: Violence Breaks at UZ As ZICOSU Loses to ZINASU 

Violence reportedly broke out at the University of Zimbabwe when the ZANU PF-aligned ZICOSU lost the election to the opposition-aligned ZINASU. Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere has condemned the violence. Read more

Tertiary Games Underway

The Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports Union (ZTISU) games got underway in Bulawayo yesterday under the theme “Together we can achieve the extraordinary through sport”. Read more

 

30 June 2022

Alex Magaisa’s Death ‘an Irreplaceable Loss to Zimbabwe’

On the memory board of the University of Kent’s school of law, the grief of students is palpable following the death of their law lecturer, Zimbabwean Dr Alex Magaisa, whom the institution said was beloved throughout the world. Read more

Developing a Development Oriented University: Perspective from Chinhoyi University of Technology

Starting off as a degree awarding institution in 1999 under the University of Zimbabwe, offering the Bachelor of Technology Degree in Production Engineering and the Bachelor of Technology Degree in Hospitality and Tourism, Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), was established by an Act by the Parliament of Zimbabwe on 10 December 2001. Read more

Ex-UZ Chancellor’s Trial to Restart in September

THE trial of former University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice chancellor Levi Nyagura, who is accused of single-handedly issuing former first lady Grace Mugabe with a PhD degree, is expected to restart on September 30, 2022. Read more

GZU’s Simon Mazorodze Medical School Nears Completion 

The state-of-art Simon Mazorodze School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Great Zimbabwe University is nearing completion.Named after late national hero and one of Masvingo’s first black medical doctors the GZU Medical School is expected to open its doors in August this year. Read more

Masvingo Teachers’ College Lecturers Demanding Cash for Marks

Students at Masvingo Teachers’ College have pleaded with responsible authorities to intervene and stop some lecturers from demanding cash for marks. Read more

Post-Study Work Opportunities Drive Student Mobility

The long-time attraction of international students from Sub-Saharan Africa to quality universities in European Union member states and their counterparts in the United States and Canada includes an appetite for getting jobs in host countries, according to ICEF Monitor, a market intelligence firm for international student recruitment. Read more

Student Takes UZ to Court Over SRC Elections

A UNIVERSITY of Zimbabwe (UZ) student Alfred Ndlovu has approached the High Court seeking the suspension of Student Representative Council (SRC) elections. Ndlovu was barred from running for president in the vote which is slated for 1 July at the institution of higher learning. Read more

UB-Zimbabwe Partnership Elevates Pharmacology, Biomedicine in Africa 

The medical research partnership between the University at Buffalo and the University of Zimbabwe started in 1998 as a research project to study how HIV medicines developed in the U.S. and Europe could be used to fight the raging AIDS epidemic in Africa. Read more

UZ Hosts Teachers Forum

All institutions and agencies of Government at every level must endeavour to facilitate rapid and equitable development, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Amon Murwira told the vice chancellor’s teacher education curriculum transformation conference… Read more

Varsity Bursar Up for $10m Fraud 

The assistant bursar with the Midlands State University with responsibility for the payroll has been issued with a warrant of arrest after he went on the run and failed to appear at the Gweru Magistrate Courts where he is facing charges of fraud for swindling the university of over $10 million by creating ghost workers. Read more

 

31 May 2022

Catholic University to Take University Learning Online

Speaking at the University’s 19th Graduation Ceremony at its Harare campus recently, the Rector and Vice Chancellor, Professor Ranga Zinyemba, said the University is considering establishing a new blended omnibus learning centre which will specialise in online learning and teaching. Read more

Concern Over Drug Use in Tertiary Institutions 

A local anti-drug advocacy group, the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN) has expressed concern over rampant drug and substance abuse in higher and tertiary institutions while calling for a holistic approach to curb the practice. Read more

Egypt Leads Research Field for the Second Year Running

For the second year running, researchers and academics in Egypt have published more peer-reviewed journal articles than their peers in other countries in Africa, according to 2021’s datasets from SCImago Journal & Country Rank, an online platform with some of the world’s most comprehensive citation and abstract databases of global journal research output. Read more

Embed Art in Local Cultures to Guard Against Foreign Sway

African artistic expression should be deeply rooted in local cultures and ought to reflect local cultural realities and context, targeting the African market first. In this way, domination by Western culture and globalisation, which have been spreading fast around the world, influencing every form of cultural expression, could be avoided. Read more

Ezekiel Guti University in Enrolment Scandal 

Top officials at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) in Bindura have been caught up in a serious enrolment scandal after it emerged that some of them have been selling fake admission letters to aspiring students. Read more

FTJ University Issue is Under Audit, Says AG

The Auditor General’s office has disclosed that a comprehensive audit is underway regarding the procurement and construction of the FTJ University in Mansa. Read more

Government Scales Up Construction Works at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) 

Government is scaling up construction works at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) through expanding the innovation hub and building an industrial park at the institution. Read more

GZU Students Sleep Rough

Students at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) have allegedly been sleeping rough for the past four days after the institution failed to provide them with accommodation. Read more

Is Affirmative Action Still Necessary in Zimbabwean HE?

In 1998, the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education proclaimed that further efforts were required to eliminate all gender stereotyping in higher education to consolidate women’s participation at all levels and in all disciplines in which they were underrepresented. Read more

Midlands State University Wins the Manfred Lachs Space Moot African Regionals 

Midlands State University (MSU) has emerged as the winner of the 2022 African regional rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Moot Competition. The Manfred Lachs Space Moot competition is an annual space moot competition organised by the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). Read more 

MUAST New Campus, Admin Block Take Shape

Construction of the new administration block and campus for Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology (MUAST) is taking shape with the authorities expressing satisfaction with the progress to date. Read more

NUST Innovator Seeks to End Plastics Environment Menace

Every environmentalist’s nightmare may be turning into a blissful dream, following a game-changing innovation by a National University of Science and technology (Nust) graduate. Read more

NUST Student Creates Cellphone App to Revolutionise Farming

The term ‘cellphone farmer’ became a buzz word at the turn of the millennium to describe farmers who were hardly on the farms but would make phone calls to their workers to give them instructions. Read more

Parliamentary Inquiry Finds Rampant ‘Thigh for Marks’ Abuses

A Zimbabwean parliamentary probe has unearthed rampant sexual harassment at universities and tertiary education institutions in the country that, it says, is fuelled by drug abuse and lecturers demanding sex in exchange for high marks. Read more

PhD Student Kills Himself After Failing to Register for Academic Year… 

A Zimbabwean PhD candidate, who could not register for the academic year at the University of the Witwatersrand because his study permit had expired, killed himself last weekend… Read more

Presidential Envoy Preaches Entrepreneurship at NUST

Presidential envoy and Zimbabwe’s ambassador at-large to the Americans and Europe, Prophet Eubert Angel has encouraged students to choose entrepreneurship over employment. Read more

Rampant Sexual Harassment at Tertiary Institutions 

There is rampant sexual harassment of female students at most tertiary institutions in the country with victims suffering in silence for fear of being made to fail by the daring male perpetrators, a recent inquiry by legislators has revealed. Read more

Students Stay Away to Protest Fee Hikes, Cost of Living

Whereas student leaders claimed that members heeded a call to stay away from classes on 9 May as part of wider protests against the rising costs of living, including hikes in tuition fees, state media reported that it was business as usual in the country and that the stayaway was a flop. Read more

UNESCO to Hold Inception Workshop for the BuPuSa Project

It is expected that representatives from government, the private sector, disaster management institutes, water management institutes, academia, climate and meteorology, development partners, NGOs and community representatives will take part in this workshop. Read more

UNPRPD Hosts Focus Group Discussions to Inform Disability Audit Tool for Tracking and Documenting Stigma and Discrimination

As part of the first phase of the audit tool development, a focus group discussion with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) learners and instructors was held at Harare Polytechnic… Read more

 

30 April 2022

New ICT University to Open to SADC Students From 2023

Zimbabwe plans to open a new state-run, specialized information and communications technology cyber security university next year with the objective of making it a premier institution of higher learning in that sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Read more

Levi Nyagura Case Further Deferred

The trial of former University of Zimbabwe vice chancellor Levi Nyagura, pictured, who is accused of illegally awarding a doctorate degree to former first lady Grace Mugabe has been pushed to June. Read more

Mobile Student Apps: Zimbabwean Institutions Lag Behind

Student services in many universities globally now include college mobile apps that enhance the student experience, but not all Zimbabwean universities are using them, according to Dr Vusumuzi Maphosa, the information and communications technology (ICT) director and app developer at Lupane State University (LSU) in Zimbabwe. Read more

Parly Turns Heat on Minister Over Varsity Fees Hike

Members of National Assembly have requested Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira to issue a ministerial statement in the House on the escalating fees charged to tertiary students. Read more

Student Arrested as Protests Rock University of Zimbabwe Over Fees Hikes

One student was arrested on Monday night after thousands of students protested at the University of Zimbabwe over a second fees increase in less than a month. Read more

Subject Rankings: More Departments in Africa on Top-100 List

African higher education institutions are steadily scaling the academic ladder as 23 university departments in three countries were among the world’s 100 best places to study subjects they offer, according to the 12th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022. Read more

Zimsec Standoff Leaves Students, Varsities in Limbo

A STANDOFF between markers and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) has resulted in the examination board failing to release the 2021 Ordinary and Advanced Level results in time. Read more

 

31 March 2022

10 ‘Riotous’ UZ Students Granted Bail

TEN University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students were yesterday granted $50 000 bail each when they appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with public violence. They were arrested on Wednesday at the UZ campus protesting against an increase in tuition fees. Read more

10 UZ Students Arrested for Staging “Fees Must Fall” Demo

10 University of Zimbabwe students including pro-democracy campaigner @AllanChipoyi are currently detained at Avondale Police Station following their arrest for allegedly staging a “Fees Must Fall” demo. Read more

Africa University Appoints First Non-Zimbabwean Vice-Chancellor 

Africa University (AU) has appointed its first non-Zimbabwean Vice-Chancellor in its history. Professor Peter Mageto, a Kenyan national, was appointed the AU’s fifth Vice-Chancellor recently. Read more

Can You do Research on Zimbabwe’s Public Universities?

Have you ever travelled thousands of miles to conduct research and returned empty-handed? I have. Read more

Concern Over Academic Freedom as Government Amends Acts

The acts governing Zimbabwe’s 13 state universities are being amended by the Amendment of State Universities Statutes Bill which was gazetted on 7 January 2022 and is currently being reviewed by parliament. Read more

Evacuation of Africa’s Students from Ukraine Continues

While 17 African countries were among the 35 states that abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution on Wednesday 2 March demanding that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine”…Read more

‘Geospatial Technology Can Change the World’ – Prizewinner

Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University (MSU) surveying and geomatics student Kumbirai Matingo created a national COVID-19 Hub that provides location-based data and analytical resources to help locals, decision-makers and people in technical fields to fight the virus. Read more

Ghana Learning Best Practices in Research Management… 

The Association of African Universities (AAU) says Ghana is learning best practices in how to manage research grants through the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI).Director of ICT Services, Communications and Knowledge Management at the AAU, Nodumo Dhlamini believes the move will make it possible… Read more

Great Zimbabawe University Chivi Centre of Dryland Agriculture Takes Shape

Great Zimbabwe University continues to spread its tentacles across Masvingo province by implementing its multi-campus system with a school of dryland agriculture taking shape in the drought-prone Chivi district. Read more

Joint Scientific Session Convening with the African Crop Science Society

RUFORUM, in partnership with the African Crop Science Society and the Zimbabwean RUFORUM member universities, will convene a three-day scientific conference where scientists, academicians and students will present their work orally focusing on the application of biological, ecological and social knowledge… Read more

Mamdani Talks About his Research Legacy and Work at Makerere

Professor Mahmood Mamdani was the executive director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University, Uganda, from 2010 to the end of February 2022. During this time, he has revamped the institution’s mission and established a robust PhD programme. Read more

MSU Hosts Rural Industrialisation Brainstorming Session

Midlands State University (MSU) hosted a rural industrialisation brainstorming session at the University’s main campus in Gweru on the 29th of March 2022. Read more

MSU Research Scientist Delivers Moving Presentation at Commonwealth Science Conference

Running under the theme, “Delivering a common future through collaborative engagements,” with a particular focus on the impact of climate change on health, the conference had three broad sub-themes namely, ‘Energy, Biodiversity and Equitable Access to Health’. Read more

MSU Student Honoured at African Youth SDGs Summit in Ethiopia

Midlands State University (MSU) Surveying and Geomatics 4th year student Kumbirai Matingo clinched a Private Sector Youth Inclusive award in the Outstanding Services and Achievements category at the 4th African Youth Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) Summit held from  9 to 11 March 2022 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Read more

NUST Successfully Hosts Cluster 1 University Games 

The Zimbabwe University Sports Association (Zusa) cluster 1 games that concluded in the city at the weekend have been described as a huge success. The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) played host to the games that saw 10 universities from around Zimbabwe… Read more

Research Initiative to Tackle Food Security, Global Warming

In an effort to bolster cooperation between European and African countries as they face joint challenges in agriculture, food and the environment in a context of climate change, two French science bodies, in cooperation with 20 African universities and institutes along with three sub-regional organisations, have launched a research initiative… Read more

SADC Education for Sustainable Development Framework on the Horizon

The dialogue is one of UNESCO’s responses to the aspirations enunciated in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 of SADC, that is to develop and implement programmes, in order to improve human capacities for socio-economic development… Read more

The Phenomenon that Lets the President Control Universities

Zimbabwe’s public universities are governed by a rubric of laws and colonial traditions that form a conducive political environment for what can best be called the University Administration State President Complex (UASPC), a phenomenon characterised by relations between the president’s office and a state university’s administration. Read more

Wa-faya Promises Free Internet, Tuition for Under-Privileged UZ Students

SOME 30 under-privileged University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students will receive a years’ tuition scholarship from Wa-faya and its partners with the college getting free WiFi. Read more

What Do Students Expect from Their Universities?

Employers worldwide are battling with the divide between the skills they require and what would-be employees are bringing to the workforce. According to the World Economic Forum, almost 30% of companies believe that they have the digital talent they require, and a recent survey showed that a staggering 89% of executives struggle to find candidates with the right mix of soft skills … Read more

Youth STEM Boot Camp Headlines UNESCO’s Celebrations for the World Engineering Day

UNESCO’s celebration of the World Engineering Day will continue this week with a joint event co-organised in partnership with Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers and the University of Zimbabwe.  Read more

ZimCric Urged to Create Tertiary Grooming System

National University of Science and Technology cricket coach Bryan Tsongora says Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) needs to set up a system that grooms talent and ensure that it filters from secondary school to tertiary level so that the country does not lose talent. Read more

Zinasu Flags State Universities Statuses Bill

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has expressed concern over the Amendment to State Universities Statuses Bill, saying the proposed law was silent on academic freedom. Read more

 

28 February 2022

Academic Publishing Needs Creative Solutions to Grow

COVID-19 has dampened academic research productivity even though virtual conferences and webinars have become an antidote for visa denials and a shortage of travel funding. Where academic publishing is concerned, there may be solutions to promote development in African countries as well as increase international support. Read more

Govt to Train More Indigenous Languages and Science Teachers

Government is set to train more indigenous languages and science teachers under its Teacher Capacity Development programme. Zimbabwe has 16 official languages and the training of more teachers in local languages reverses a trend whereby Shona and Ndebele were mostly taught in schools. Read more

GZU Lecturers Join Incapacitated Colleagues, Announce Strike 

LECTURERS at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) have gone on strike. They join their University of Zimbabwe (UZ) colleagues also on industrial action having declared incapacitation Monday and teachers who withdrew labour from February 7 when schools were expected to open for the first term. Read more

Minister, Vice-Chancellors to Sign Performance Contracts

Zimbabwe has introduced a system of rating the vice-chancellors of all state universities. They are now required to sign performance contracts, the results of which will be made public annually in a programme the government says is aimed at ensuring high performance in the public sector. Read more

New Immigration Rules Leave Foreign Students in the Lurch

South Africa has withdrawn a blanket waiver granted to foreign students studying in critical skills areas following changes to its immigration policy. Read more

NUST Deploys Staff to Ekusileni Centre 

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has deployed staff to Ekusileni Medical Centre to kick-start the second phase of transforming the facility into a specialist research and teaching hospital. Read more

The Genius Who Walks to University 

A CHITUNGWIZA student, who scored 13 points in his Advanced Level examinations, walks from town to the University of Zimbabwe and back, to attend his lectures. Read more

University Systems in 45 Countries have Barely Been Studied

Higher education in Africa has become a frequently researched topic from 2000 onwards, but the systems in 45 out of 54 countries on the continent have barely been studied and 20 countries lack internal higher education expertise. This is a matter of concern, states a new study. Read more

Zimbabwe Engineering Student Designs Trolley Disinfection Machine to Fight Covid-19 

A final-year University of Zimbabwe masters’ electrical engineering student has designed an automated trolley disinfection machine to help fight Covid -19 pandemic at the country’s major shopping malls. Read more

Zim Set to Reap Innovation Hubs Benefits 

Zimbabwe will this year start benefiting from innovations being spearheaded at local universities that have since been allocated $7,2 billion for innovation hubs and infrastructure development. Read more

 

31 January 2022

Bill Seeks to Transform State Universities 

The 13 Acts governing State universities are likely to be amended by the Amendment of State Universities Statutes Bill gazetted last week. The Bill will be brought before Parliament to align the Acts with the Constitution as well as create uniformity on the legal framework across all universities. Read more

Comesa Joins Varsities in Innovation drive 

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with six universities from the region to roll out programmes that support innovation and promote regional integration. Read more

GZU Announces Provisional Dates for End Of Semester Exams 

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has directed students not to return to the campus after the New Year. In a notice posted on its Twitter page, GZU said students will only come back for the semester examinations provisionally scheduled to take place between 31 January and 18 February. Read more

Hexco Pass Rate Remains Stable Despite Covid-19 

The November 2021 Higher Examinations Council (Hexco) results show a marginal decline of 3,1 percentage points in the pass rate with Government expressing satisfaction over how the tertiary education system has surmounted Covid-19 associated challenges. Read more

Manpower Fund to Bankroll Zimbabwe’s Development

A cash-starved Zimbabwean government has turned to the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) to bankroll the country’s efforts toward industrialisation and modernisation. Higher education institutions have a key part in the execution of these plans. Read more

Suicides Among Students Raise Concern Over Mental Health

Suicide among tertiary students has raised concerns about a mental health crisis that is tearing through tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe where classes are set to start early in February 2022. Read more

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to make PCR kits 

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is set to start manufacturing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kits next month following delivery of a US$86 000-reagents manufacturing machine. Read more

UB and UPENN Embark on Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices Study for Southern Africa

The University of Botswana through the Faculty of Medicine and in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania will embark on a study titled Investigating Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices in Southern Africa (MOSAIC) covering Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Read more

Women Students Dominate at Tertiary Education Institutions

Enrolment in Zimbabwe’s universities and teacher training colleges has favoured female students in the past two to three years, a recent government report shows. Read more

 

31 December 2021

Africa’s Challenges a Chance for Space Scientists to Excel

In Zimbabwe, space science is taught at the University of Zimbabwe, the Chinhoyi University of Technology, the Midlands State University and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), where fields ranging from geographical information systems, geoinformatics, engineering and applied sciences are offered. Read more

Covid-19 – Govt Closely Monitoring Colleges 

Higher Education Ministry says it is closely monitoring developments at tertiary institutions particularly the Masvingo Teachers College which has become an epicenter of Covid-19. Read more

ED Launches Varsity Film Expo Today at NUST 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will on Monday launch the Varsity Film Expo at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), an initiative that is expected to positively impact on the film industry in the country and create jobs. Read more

France Reiterates Support for Zim’s Mid-Career Scientists 

France remains committed to actively supporting mid-career scientists to scale up their research activities to find innovative solutions to livelihoods and biodiversity conservation challenges facing local communities in Zimbabwe and most other countries in southern Africa. Read more

Mutare’s Africa University Graduate Returns to Serve in East Congo 

Faithful United Methodists in the East Congo Conference welcomed home the first student from the conference to graduate from Africa University in Zimbabwe. Read more

Omicron: Academics Voice Their Dismay Over Travel Ban

African academics have expressed dismay at the move by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries to block flights from several African countries following the sequencing of a new, potentially more transmissible variant of COVID-19. Read more

Researchers Failing ‘Relevance Test’, Some HE Ministers Say

African ministers of education, science and technology faulted scientists for doing research that seemed to be producing knowledge for “the sake of it”, without clear benefits for the larger society and its national challenges. Read more

Researchers Get Boost 

The Research Platform Production and Conservation in Partnership (PCP), has pledged to continue assisting local universities in training researchers with the focus of changing livelihoods in communities. Read more

Students from Shunned San Community Make History

Three members of Zimbabwe’s San community, which has for centuries lived as hunter-gatherers, have made history by being the first to enrol in a university. Read more

Student Mobility Between Africa and US Falls During COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the number of international students from Africa who are studying in universities in the United States, as their numbers fell from a high of 48,679 students in the 2019-20 academic year to 45,343 students in 2020-21, a drop of 6.85%. Read more

Tertiary Education Council Commissioned 

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira, yesterday challenged the newly-commissioned Tertiary Education Council (TEC) to help the government… Read more

UNESCO Concludes Training of African Judicial Institutions on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists

UNESCO in partnership with the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights conducted a 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT), organized between the 29 November  to 3 December 2021,… Read more

 

30 November 2021

An Excellence Barometer can Help Research ‘Grow Tall’

Prospective students and their parents have been examining the recently published 2022 World University Rankings. Read more

Community Livelihood Collaborations in Zimbabwe Kicks Off

In 2021, Durban University of Technology through its newly established Centre for African Governance and Development (CAGD) entered into a Livelihoods and Export Aided Programme (LEAP) agreement with the African Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) which is based in Zimbabwe and led by Prof Gift Mugano. Read more

Cookbooks, Television Show and App Create Demand for Insects

Academics need to strengthen their collaboration with external actors if they are to realise their research objectives to diversify food sources and attain Sustainable Development Goals on food and ending hunger. Read more

COP26: Young Scientist Advances Climate-Smart Agriculture

A young Zimbabwean scientist, who focuses on the development of plants that are resilient in the face of climate change, believes the world is listening to Africa’s concerns about the environment. He reflects on COP26, in which he was part of a panel discussion. Read more

Equip Students with Industrial Skills’ 

Tertiary institutions should come up with curriculums that equips students with relevant skills for local industry to help the country switch from being a net importer of goods and services to a competitive exporter. Read more

German Ambassador Meets UZ Students 

Yesterday, German Ambassador Volz had the pleasure of meeting a group of first-year students pursuing degrees in Political Science and Diplomacy as well as Governance and Public Management from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). Read more

‘Higher Education to Drive Development Agenda’

Bold programmes for building the economy towards achieving Vision 2030 have been initiated by the Government, with institutions of higher learning being seen as a key in pushing this national agenda through innovation, science and technology, President Mnangagwa said yesterday. Read more

LSU Vice-Chancellor in Sexual Abuse Storm 

Lupane State University (LSU) vice-chancellor (VC) Pardon Kuipa has been accused of sexually abusing female employees at the institution, resulting in a protest march against him on Tuesday. Read more

MPs Shocked by High Sexual Abuse Cases in Varsities, Colleges 

A fact-finding mission parliamentary portfolio committee on higher and tertiary education and women’s affairs have brought to the fore the high levels of sexual abuse prevalent in both private and state tertiary institutions perpetrated by male lecturers. Read more

President Caps 1 531 Graduates at Lupane University 

President Mnangagwa yesterday capped 1 531 graduates at Lupane State University (LSU) in Matabeleland North Province where the institution commended his leadership in the country’s Covid-19 management system. Read more

Scientists Look Forward to Country’s First Satellite 

Zimbabwe plans to launch its first satellite, ZIMSAT-1, in February 2022. The CubeSat will host a multispectral camera and image classification tool, as well as a device to transmit and receive signals from amateur radio operators. Read more

Student Leaders Allegedly Required to “Speak in Tongues”

The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) allegedly barred five aspiring student executive council (SEC) candidates from contesting on grounds that they cannot speak in tongues and are not “spirit filled” to lead students. Read more

Students Want a ‘Better, Freer and More Democratic Zimbabwe’

Students who have been embroiled in legal proceedings against the state over activism-related incidents have vowed to continue mobilising for a “better, freer and more democratic Zimbabwe”. Read more

Sudanese Students Stranded in Zimbabwe After Graduating at Top University 

A Sudanese, Makuei Maker Chuny, and several others who graduated today at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo, say they are stranded following their government’s failure to provide them air tickets… Read more

UNESCO and SADC Co-creating a Strategic Framework for Higher Education and TVET 

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) in collaboration with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) jointly facilitated a two-day strategic workshop in Cape Town, South Africa… Read more

Unlawfully Allocating UZ Students Accommodation Lands Man in Soup 

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) employee has been arraigned before Harare Magistrates Court for fraudulently allocating accommodation to students at a cost of between US$40 and US$60 per head. Read more

US and UN Rapporteur at Odds Over Ongoing Sanctions

A United Nations special rapporteur says sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries are affecting the country’s higher education sector and causing massive brain drain and widespread unemployment among key professionals such as university professors. But not everyone agrees with her assessment. Read more

UZ Student & Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Allan Moyo, Freed 

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student and pro-democracy campaigner Allan Moyo is now a free man after spending more than two months in remand prison for allegedly calling for a revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. Read more

UZ Student Speaks After Scholarship Was ‘Revoked’ By the Government 

University of Zimbabwe student, Allan Chipoyi, whose scholarship was revoked for alleged links with the opposition has denied allegations that Project Vote 263, which he chairs, was formed to champion the regime change agenda. Read more

ZAOGA University Bars Students for Failing to Speak In Tongues

Five students at the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) have dragged the ZAOGA-FIF-run institution to the High Court for alleged discrimination.The students were reportedly barred from contesting for positions in the Student Executive Council (SEC) on grounds that they cannot speak in tongues… Read more

ZEGU Student Leads Team of Law Students to Amsterdam 

Nyasha Chiramba a 5th-year law student at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) left the country on Monday for Amsterdam and Belgium leading a team of Zimbabwean law students for an international moot competition. Read more

ZEGU Student Who Can’t Speak in Tongues Gets a Lifeline 

A student of the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) who was disqualified from contesting in the student executive council elections because she cannot speak in tongues yesterday got relieved after the High Court allowed her to participate in the elections. Read more

 

31 October 2021

3 More Varsities to Offer Law Degrees

The Council for Legal Education has added law degrees from three local universities as designated legal qualifications bring to five, the institutions that are recognised in the country. Read more

CUT’s Multi-Million Dollar Dairy Parlour Commissioned

Universities and higher education colleges must provide solutions to national needs and come up with innovative and industrious means towards production of goods and services in line with Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), …Read more

Four Specialist Hospitals Boost 

Government is in the process of establishing specialist medical schools at four State universities, with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) already recruiting critical staff to take over Ekusileni Medical Centre. Read more

Govt Commends CUT for Contributing Towards GDP

Government has applauded Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) for its contribution towards national economic growth in the country through its scientific and agricultural innovations. Read more

Graduates ‘Hustle’ to Fill the Unemployment Void

Living in Zimbabwe today is somewhat like an extreme sport. From poor public transport, bad roads, poor access to health care and electricity and water shortages, to a wobbly currency, you must navigate through a maze of challenges. Read more

MSU Hosts AfCFTA Virtual Conference

The Midlands State University (MSU), in conjunction with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) is next week set to hold a three-day virtual international conference on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

National Defence University on Development

The Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) Vice-Chancellor and Commandant, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Moyo has said the ongoing country’s development projects should contribute to national security. Read more

New Project Aims to Foster Student Health and Well-Being

A project that seeks to promote the health and well-being of students in higher learning institutions and tertiary institutions in Eastern and Southern African regions was recently launched by the University of Nairobi (UON) in partnership with UNESCO and Mount Kenya University. Read more

NUST Students Produce Drama Skits Tackling Campus Life 

National University of Science and Technology (Nust) students have created a drama series to document and confront issues such as drug addiction, relationships, suicide and mental health on campus. Read more

Plant Scientist Scoops International Award

Zimbabwean scientist and researcher Prince Matova often received prizes for science in high school but, more than two decades later, he has landed a prestigious international award: the Young Scientist Award 2021, in recognition of his work in the mutation breeding of cowpea and maize over the past 10 years. Read more

President Lays Foundation Stone at Simon Mazorodze Med School

President Mnangagwa has laid a foundation stone at the Simon Mazorodze School of Medicine and Health Sciences which is under construction at the Great Zimbabwe Univeresity(GZU). Read more

Thaw in International Relations Boosting Higher Education

After nearly two decades, Zimbabwe is seeing signs of a thaw in relations when it comes to the higher education sector, which has been affected by the sanctions that were imposed by Western countries. Read more

Uni’s Sex for Marks Scandal Goes to the High Court

The case of a Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) lecturer Tapiwa Mudyahoto who is being sued for $5 million after allegedly demanding sex for marks from a female student will now be heard at the High Court in Masvingo. Read more

UZ Accommodation Woes Disrupt Lectures

Scores of University of Zimbabwe first-year students have been left stranded after failing to get accommodation at the institution of higher learning. Read more

UZ to Benefit from French Partnership with African Universities

The University of Zimbabwe is set to partner French and other African research bodies in a project that aims to promote agricultural research to boost food security on the continent. Read more

Varsity Innovation Hubs Revolutionise Education 

Innovation hubs at universities and colleges will revolutionise the education system by making tertiary centres vehicles of finding solutions to Zimbabwe’s challenges and spur economic growth in line with the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 anchored on National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Read more

Youngest Medical Student in Africa’s Heart Set on Cardiology

She is arguably Africa’s youngest university student, and she is studying medicine at the University of Malawi College of Medicine. Read more

Young Zim Plant Breeder Wins International Award

A young Zimbabwean scientist, Prince Matova has been honoured by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) … Read more

Zimbabwe National Defence University Holds National Domestic Study Tour

The Zimbabwe National Defence University is on a two-week study tour of selected parts and regions of the country in a bid to equip participants with knowledge about the country’s heritage, socio-economic, political and security environment. Read more

 

31 August 2021

Competency-Based Curriculum: Universities Lagging Behind

Universities in East Africa need to start realigning their academic programmes to the requirements of the competency-based curriculum (CBC), being implemented at various levels of the basic education system in the region. Read more

Great Zimbabwe University Postpones Exams

Great Zimbabwe University has postponed its end of semester examinations, which had been scheduled to start on August 30. The postponement comes in the wake of an extension of the current level four lockdown by an additional two weeks, Read more

MAZ, UZ Partner to Jointly Host Marketing Summer School

The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) will this year jointly host the marketing academic summer school which will bridge the huge gap between academia and the real professional world. Read more

MSU and BIUST Collaborate on Minerals Technology Research

Midlands State University’s (MSU) Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in collaboration with Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) won a joint research grant worth US$ 30 000 and 500 000 Pula whose aim is to solve challenges common to both Botswana and Zimbabwe’s mining sectors. Read more

MSU Conducts COVID-19 Research

Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru has called for COVID-19 research papers to enable scholars to come up with articles that tackle challenges caused by the pandemic. Read more

MSU Student Representative Council Gets Vaccinated

In a bid to break the COVID-19 (C19) chain of transmission among students and in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face activities including examinations, MSU Student Representative Council (SRC) members on Tuesday the 17th of August 2021 received their first and second doses of the C19 vaccine. Read more

MSU to Axe 34 Workers

The Midlands State University (MSU) is set to retrench 34 workers in the catering department as part of a downsizing programme… Read more

Nust Student Selected for African Space Industry Class

National University of Science and Technology engineering student Tafadzwa Banga (23) has made history after he was selected to be one of the 10 Africans to participate in the African space industry 2021 class of under 30-year-olds. Read more

State Universities Impress Auditor-General 

Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri has commended State universities for appropriately utilising funds disbursed to them for Covid-19 research, saying most of them have accounted for the money used for the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Read more

Students have to be Part of Universities’ SDG Efforts

Higher education institutions in Africa need to empower students to contribute individually and as a group to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by setting individual SDGs and by building their own sustainable development competencies to advance these goals. Read more

Universities Set to Re-Open

Universities and tertiary institutions have set dates for opening and commencement of examinations and face to face tutorials, as they also prepare to re-open. However, the Government announced that there would be no set date for blanket re-opening of the institutions of higher learning… Read more 

Universities Support Insect-Based Food and Feed Systems

Universities are contributing to the upscaling of insect-based food and feed systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have economic, environmental and social benefits that could support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Read more

UZ Eye Value Addition to Agric Produce

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) is eyeing cooking oil production and value addition to most of their produce following projections of a bumper harvest, an official has said. Read more

UZ Student in Court for Fraud

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student was on Friday arraigned before Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga charged with fraud after he allegedly duped other students who intended to switch their programmes at the institution. Read more

Verify Engineering Visits MSU’s Coal Tar Plant Site

A team of engineers, safety and design experts from Verify Engineering, a technology development company under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development on the 27^th of September 2021 visited the Midlands State University’s (MSU). Read more

ZEGU Students Threaten to Sue Institution Over Exams

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) students have vowed to seek legal recourse against the institution over its poor-quality education system as they reject upcoming end-of-semester examinations. Read more

 

31 July 2021

1^st IDI-Sponsored Clinical Trial on HIV Treatment Published in NEJM

The first IDI-sponsored clinical trial on HIV treatment has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). This is a multi-site study in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Read more

Covid-19: HEXCO Examinations Suspended

Government has suspended the Higher Education Examination Council (HEXCO) examinations that were set to start tomorrow due to Covid-19. Read more

Educational Lifeline for the Most Vulnerable Students

Higher education in Africa must compete for funding from the government and donors with other sectors such as health, agriculture and energy. Read more

E-Learning is Getting Stuck in the Digital Divide

With 82% of students in Sub-Saharan Africa stranded without internet access, many African universities’ valiant efforts to embrace online delivery got stuck in the digital divide. COVID-19 has shown that affordable, accessible internet is more necessary than ever. Read more

Ministry to Launch New Tertiary Agriculture Education Curriculum

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement ministry will on July 28, launch the new curriculum for agriculture colleges. Read more

Political will Needed to Create the Ideal Post-Pandemic University

Digital infrastructure and connectivity, capacity-building for academic staff and students to use digital learning tools, quality assurance in the online study environment and stronger leadership from governments to bring about these changes are some of the measures that are required to create the post-pandemic African university. Read more

Sexual Harassment to be Criminalised to Protect Students

Zimbabwe is formulating a sexual harassment bill to criminalise abuse following studies that show sexual harassment, especially by lecturers, is rampant in the higher education sector. Read more

Stranded NUST Students Beg for Food

National University of Science and Technology (Nust) students are stranded in Bulawayo after government imposed travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the university’s student representative council (SRC) to launch a campaign aimed at seeking food donations for them. Read more

Students Earn Post Graduate Study Grants

Two post-graduate students have been awarded research grants to conduct studies on weather conditions to enable communities in disaster-prone areas in Zimbabwe to avert loss of life and property. Read more

Students Must Drive Climate Change Discourse and Action

The threat posed to humankind by increased incidences of drought, cyclones, floods, hailstorms and heat waves has made climate change a salient subject anywhere in the world. Read more

UZ Student Develops App to Help Patients Access Pharmacies

A 24-year-old University of Zimbabwe computer science major has developed and designed an interactive web application called a pharmacy locator to make it easier for patients to access pharmacies in the country. Read more

Zim Woman Donates Body to UZ Medical School

Rosalie Majecha Chigariro (64), a Zimbabwean woman who died in South Africa on Sunday has donated her body to the University of Zimbabwe School of Medicine to be used in advancing the study of medicine. Read more

 

30 June 2021

Boost Tertiary Education in Zimbabwe to Support Economic Recovery

Higher education in Zimbabwe needs to rapidly transform to address the deficit in the production of qualified specialists and technicians especially in the natural and applied sciences, engineering and technology, the medical and health sciences, and agriculture, … Read more

Harassment of Leaders Dissuades Gendered Student Activism

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Gender Secretary Nancy Njenge (22) has been arrested three times in less than 10 months and is facing criminal charges in three different cases before the magistrate’s court in Harare. Read more

High-Tech Computer Donation for Blind MSU Student to Aid Learning

Visually impaired Midlands State University (MSU) student, Mavis Tshuma has received a timely donation of a special high-tech laptop, a smart phone and walking stick, all valued at over $500 000 to help her adapt to campus life. Read more

Increased Investment in Zimbabwe’s Tertiary Education Essential to Economic Growth, …

Extensive reforms are required to translate the government’s education vision into a concrete set of programs and projects to accelerate economic recovery and reduce socioeconomic disparities… Read more

Innovation Bill Aims to Coordinate Research Efforts

The Zimbabwean parliament has passed the Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development (CEIRD) Bill that aims to create a technology hub to harness and coordinate research and innovation in universities and colleges, as well as the industry. Read more

LSU to Build International School of Hospitality and Tourism in Victoria Falls

Lupane State University (LSU) has acquired land to build an international school of hospitality and tourism in Victoria Falls to enhance quality and widen the base of personnel needed by the tourism industry. Read more

Ministry Asked to Suspend Contact Lectures

Zimbabwean college lecturers and students have jointly asked the government to suspend face-to-face lectures. Read more

New Law Aims to Foster Academic Freedom, Arrest Brain Drain

University and college lecturers and other related employees in Zimbabwe will now be managed under a new higher tertiary education body, the Tertiary Education Service (TES), away from the Public Service Commission (PSC). Read more

Nust Gets Funds to Procure Covid-19 Reagents Manufacturing Machine

Government has released about US$87 000 to the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) for procurement of a Covid-19 reagents manufacturing machine. Read more

Student Loan Schemes Continue to be a Revolving Failure

Since 2000, Zimbabwe’s government has come up with several student loan schemes, but all have largely remained on paper and failed to act as a safety net for those facing financial challenges. Read more

UNESCO Regional Director Bids Farewell to Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education

The UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen on 18 June 2021 bade farewell to Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Raymore Machingura. Read more

University Overlooks Theft Accused PVC for Top Job

Great Zimbabwe University has hired a South African professor to be the institution’s Pro Vice Chancellor at the expense of its acting PVC Professor Munyaradzi Manyanga who is being investigated for allegedly stealing chicken. Read more

Varsities Conclude Ground Breaking Climate Change Research

Government has unveiled a US$150 000 grant to enhance scholarly research into climate change at State universities. Read more

Zimbabwe’s Post Covid Higher and Tertiary Education Calendar Announced

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has published its 2021 calendar following last week’s call by President E. D Mnangagwa to revert lockdown measures and institute near normal operations under World Health Organisation’s operational guidelines. Read more

 

31 May 2021

Bike Modifier Catches Nust Eye

A VICTORIA Falls man who modified an ordinary mountain bicycle into a solar powered “semi-vehicle” has caught the attention of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Read more

“Campus Radios Must Add Value to Communities”

“We do not want to hear radio stations at a science-based institution spending time talking about fist fights in communities or witches; they should rather be a platform where complex scientific concepts are made accessible to regular Zimbabweans…” Read more

Free Education for Disabled Students to be Implemented

Zimbabwe’s government has implemented a policy to provide free education for university students and learners at secondary and primary level who live with disabilities. Read more

Great Zimbabwe University Delegation Visits MSU

True to the maxim iron sharps iron, a high profile delegation from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) comprising the institution’s principal officers visited Midlands State University’s Gweru Main Campus…Read more

Huawei Sows Seeds for the Future in Zimbabwe by Nurturing Local ICT Talent

Huawei Zimbabwe has kicked off its annual Seeds for the Future program for undergraduate university students which aims to develop local ICT talent. Read more

More Programmes, Awareness Could Launch Africa into Space

Africa is lagging behind when it comes to space activities and the root cause is a lack of space higher education in many countries on the continent, according to an Africa space industry expert. Read more

Partnership is Casting the Net Wider to Tackle Stroke

Health research in Zimbabwe is set to benefit from the addition of two new specialised stroke units which have been set up at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo and Gweru Provincial Hospital under the Partnership in Education Training and Research Advancement (PETRA). Read more

President Signs Manpower Act into Law

President Mnangagwa has signed into law, the Manpower Planning and Development Amendment Act that seeks to promote the development and implementation of a higher and tertiary education policy which enables learners who go through the system, to be producers of goods and services. Read more

Push to Highlight Climate Change in Tertiary Curricula

As Zimbabwe becomes more vulnerable to climate change, calls have been made to heighten awareness through the teacher education curriculum at universities and colleges. Read more

RUFORUM Hosts African Government Technical Experts

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) hosted a virtual dialogue for Africa Government Technical Experts towards the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 under the theme “Transforming food systems is crucial for delivering all the Sustainable Development Goals”. Read more

Varsity Ventures into Mining

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) has ventured into mining in Bindura and has established a faculty of mining, Vice chancellor Professor James Chetsanga has said. Read more

Zimbabwean Students Stuck in India

Several Zimbabweans, among them students on scholarships, are stuck in India at Gujarat University amid fears that Covid-19 could get to them before they are allowed to return home. Read more

 

30 April 2021

Five More Tertiary Institutions Get Campus Radio Licences

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has granted campus radio licences to four universities and a polytechnic in a move expected to promote student training, research and entertainment in tertiary education institutions. Read more

Five of Jacaranda School of Orphans Students Awarded Full Scholarships…

Jacaranda School of Orphans has become the first school in Malawi to be awarded full scholarships to five of its students to study Bachelor of degrees in prestigious African universities in Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe. Read more

Government Millions for Hostels May not be Enough

The dire shortage of student accommodation at higher and tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe has forced thousands of students into overcrowded living spaces in a bid to sidestep high rent for private accommodation. Read more

Lecturers Take Labour Action, Work Only Two Days a Week

Zimbabwean lecturers working at polytechnics, teachers’ colleges and industrial training colleges have resolved to report for duty for only two days a week because of their low salaries. Read more

Mabasa’s PhD Thesis Breaks New Ground

A PhD student in the African Language Studies Section in the School of Languages and Literatures, Mr Ignatius Mabasa, has been awarded a PhD for the first-ever thesis written in ChiShona at Rhodes University. Read more

MSU and Royal Academy of Engineering in Staff Development Partnership

The London based Royal Academy of Engineering has partnered the Midlands State University’s Mining Engineering Department in a human capital development programme that saw six staff development fellows receiving mentorship from established engineers working in various industry and mining concerns around the country. Read more

Mugabe’s Homophobia Still Haunts LGBTIQ Community

During his nearly four decade-long rule, Zimbabwe’s late President Robert Mugabe issued a string of homophobic statements, at one time describing gays as “worse than pigs and dogs” and whose conduct “is condemned by nature”. Read more

NUST Launches Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

The National university of Science and Technology launched its Covid-19 vaccination program for staff members and students today with the University`s vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo being the first to get the jab. Read more

NUST Rolls Out Vaccination of Employees, Students on Campus

The National University of Science and Technology launched its Covid-19 vaccination programme for staff members and students today with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mqhele E. Dlodlo, being the first to get the jab. Read more

Parliamentary Committee Invites Students to Discuss Fees

A Zimbabwean parliamentary portfolio committee has invited students to discuss fee increases in the country’s tertiary education institutions. Read more

Prestigious Award for the Late Professor James Hakim

Colleagues and friends of the late Zimbabwean scientist Professor James Hakim have described an international award established in his name as a well-deserved honour and a fitting initiative for the decorated academic. Read more

Student Leader Released on Bail After 30 Days

The president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union has been released on bail after about 30 days in prison. He was previously held for about 30 days in October 2020. Read more

Tertiary Education Should Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

The proliferation of a gamut of universities and tertiary institutions churning out tens of thousands of graduates each year is a welcome development in the country’s quest to close the skills gap and set Zimbabwe on the right pedestal in terms of socio-economic development. Read more

Vice-Chancellors, Lecturers Receive Vaccines

Zimbabwe has started vaccinating vice-chancellors, university lecturers and staff against COVID-19 after placing them second on a priority list that has health workers at the top. Read more

Victoria Falls Gets its First Higher Learning Institution

Zimbabwe has started the process of building two new universities – one in the south-eastern city of Masvingo and another in the resort city of Victoria Falls. Read more

Virtual Hospital Transforms Covid-19 War

With most Covid-19 patients able to recover at home, a virtual hospital has been set up to ensure quality home-based care to patients who do not need hospitalisation, as Government continues to revolutionise the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

We Will Provide Facilities for New Varsities’ Takeoff

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has pledged to provide the major facilities needed for the full take-off of the three newly established universities in the state, within the limits of available resources. Read more

Zimbabwean Scholarships are Prestigious

Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame has urged students offered scholarships by Zimbabwean President, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to work hard and make Zambia proud as a country. Read more

Zimbabwe Students Receive COVID Vaccinations

Zimbabwe has started vaccinating students at institutions of higher learning, weeks after commencing the inoculation of university staff members that included lecturers and vice-chancellors. Read more

 

31 March 2021

Certificates Withheld in Dispute Over Scholarships

South Sudanese students who graduated in Zimbabwe under government scholarships from 2018 to 2020 have vowed to continue protesting in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, until their government has paid over the US$1.4 million in scholarship money it owes to various Zimbabwean universities. Read more

Dialogue on Impact of Vaccine Inequities in Global South

“ ‘It is a crushing loss to Zimbabwean medicine,’ Katsidzira says. ‘Don’t forget: We have had a huge brain drain. So, people like James are people who keep the system going,’ he adds.” Read More

Female Student Leaders Face Ongoing Harassment

In November 2019, Abiona Mataranyika made history by becoming the first female to be elected as president of the University of Zimbabwe Student Representative Council, more than six decades after the inception of this higher learning institution. Read more

Higher Education Institutions Reopen, Exams Proceed

After a hiatus lasting more than two months, institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe returned to conventional learning on Monday 15 March. Read more

IDBZ Student Hostel Project Nears Completion

The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ)’s US$14.8 million student accommodation project in Bulawayo is now 69% complete and expected to be fully completed in November this year. Read more

More Student Activists Arrested and Detained in Zimbabwe

The arrest and detention of students in Zimbabwe have continued during a turbulent two weeks in which students were locked up for protesting against the incarceration of another student leader, Makomborero Haruzivishe. Some have also been charged for not wearing masks. Read more

MSU Signs Partnership Agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry

As part of the country’s green climate initiative, the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has signed a Partnership Agreement with the Midlands State University. The signing ceremony took place on the 25^th of March 2021 at the University’s Gweru Main Campus. Read more

MSU Vice-Chancellor Leads from the Front in the Fight Against COVID-19

Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Victor N Muzvidziwa has become the first University Principal Officer to get vaccinated as part of the second phase of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. Read more

NUST Opens Stroke Unit at Mpilo Central Hospital

A STROKE Unit for specialised care of stroke patients was opened yesterday at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo in response to an alarming mortality rate in the country. Read more

NUST Sign Climate Change Mainstreaming Research MoU

The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has signed a Partnership Agreement on climate change mainstreaming research programme with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Read more

NUST to Manufacture Covid-19 Test Kits

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is set to start producing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits for the country in response to Covid-19 that has killed over 1 500 Zimbabweans. Read more

Students Shocked at Unexpected ‘Insensitive’ Hike in Tuition Fees

Zimbabwean state universities have increased tuition fees by up to a massive 450%, in a development which students said was insensitive, considering the economic crisis in the country. Read more

Varsity Fees Hikes Put Education Beyond Reach

The recent announcement of tuition fees increases at all state universities by Government has caused an uproar among tertiary learners across the country. Read more

Will the Multimillion-Dollar Mugabe University be Built?

Plans to build the Robert Mugabe University in Zimbabwe, named after the country’s late founding president, have been shelved, with the staggering US$1 billion needed for the project unlikely to be raised following his death in 2019. Read more

Zim Female Student in Unique Agric Research

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)’s Marange experiments to integrate contours, membranes and utilise run-off in agriculture are being commended for their notable yields. Read more

ZSC Impressed with NUST’s Response to National Challenges

The Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) has called on the country’s security, social and economic players to work closely together to guarantee national security. This emerged yesterday following a visit to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) by ZSC students. Read more

 

28 February 2021

Demystifying the ‘Wonder Herb’

It is my pleasure to tell our own Zimbabwean story about one of our local plants and its benefits. In my early years as a growing scientist, I realized that if I wanted to find out about our local herbs, I had to dig a little deeper online and, in most cases, had to rely on research done outside the Zimbabwean border… Read more

Fostering Multilingualism for Inclusion in Education and Society

The 21st of February of every year is a day set aside by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for the world to commemorate mother languages. Read more

Has COVID-19 Become a Weapon to Gag Student Activists?

2020 will go down in history as a year when life, work and study came to a virtual standstill. Zimbabwean students will remember hastily moving online, the termination of internships and struggles with power, network and data challenges… Read more

MSU Health Care Personnel Receive their 1st Doses of the Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine

Health care personnel from the Midlands State University’s Health Services Department were vaccinated at the University’s Gweru Main Campus on Tuesday 23 February 2021 as the national COVID-19 vaccination programme got underway in the Midlands Province. Read more

MSU Holds Inaugural Virtual RBM Workshop

In the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Midlands State University has held its first-ever virtual Result Based Management workshop to map strategies and set targets for the 2021 academic year… Read more

Zimbabwe Conducts Covid-19 Research

This was revealed by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira during a question-and-answer session in the Senate recently. Read more

 

31 January 2021

BUSE Employees up in Arms with Admin Staff

Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) workers are up in arms with the university administration staff over alleged unfair labour practices after they were forced to take vacation during the lockdown period. Read more

CIPS signs MoU with Institute of Regional Studies for Collaboration in academics…

NUST Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) and the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad entered into a general agreement for cooperation… Read more

Contact Lessons Cancelled, but Some Oppose Blended Learning

Higher learning institutions in Zimbabwe have postponed, until further notice, all contact learning that was scheduled to start at the beginning of the year after the government hastily introduced a 30-day national lockdown… Read more

Moyo Appointed Varsity Instrument Instructor

Legendary singer Jonah Moyo has been appointed instrument instructor in the Performing and Visual Arts department at the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) in Masvingo. Read more

NUST SCME and Fazal Steels Limited Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The MoU is of great significance as it will provide a platform for both NUST and Fazal Steel to carry out energy, environment, and steel quality specific applied projects. It will also provide an opportunity for researchers/engineers of FSL… Read more

President Launches Scholarship Programme

President Mnangagwa has launched a personal scholarship programme to assist students from disadvantaged families to pursue tertiary education, as part of his philosophy that a nation can never develop faster than the development of its education. Read more

 

31 December 2020

GZU ‘Sex for Marks’ Lecturer Sues Female Student For $3 Million

A senior lecturer with the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has filed a $3 million defamation lawsuit against a female student who accused him of demanding sex from her for marks. Read more

MSU Industrial Park Taking Shape 

The Midlands State University Industrial Park which was recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa is beginning to reap the profits with its chemical manufacturing and textiles departments already overwhelmed by market demand. Read more

New Law Offers Pregnant Teens the Promise of Education

The move, which has rippled across the African continent, was heralded by child education advocates as significant for the lives of Zimbabwean girls and women who now find it easier to pursue education and economic advancement. Read more

NUST Students Stage Online Demonstration 

NATIONAL University of Science and Technology (NUST) students last week held an online demonstration against failure by the university to release transcripts and other administrative concerns. Read more

Strike Looming at the National University of Science and Technology

Staff at one of the leading universities in Zimbabwe, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), located in Bulawayo, are set to start with a strike on 14 December. Read more

Student Teachers Finally Receive an Allowance Increase

After almost a year of lobbying for an allowance review, Zimbabwean student teachers who have to complete a practical teaching programme as part of their diploma training have finally received an increase. Read more

UNESCO Addresses Societal Inequalities and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Nine Sub-Saharan African Cities

Moderated by Simona Bignami, Professor of Demography at the Université de Montréal, the webinar welcomed more than 100 participants from around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the pandemic triggered severe economic and social contractions, magnifying the long-standing legacies of prejudice, injustice, and increasing inequalities of our societies. Read more

US$5 Million Boost for Extensive Sexuality Education

Twenty tertiary education institutions in Zambia and Zimbabwe will receive a total of US$5 million in 2021 to implement comprehensive campus-wide sexual reproductive health, rights and sexuality education programmes …Read more

ZOU Lecturers Paid $5 Per Exam Script, Cry Foul

Part-time lecturers at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) said they had gone for over nine months without receiving their allowances and had also not been paid for services rendered in marking this year’s examinations. Read more

University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Wins the Distinguished Excellence…

The University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo has received the “Distinguished Excellence in Academia Award” from the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IEOM)…Read more

 

30 November 2020

Access to Information: A Case of Academic Xenophobia

After decades of pressure from civic society calling for legislative reform in July 2020 Zimbabwe replaced the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act … Read more

COVID-19 Brings Opportunities to Broaden Third Stream Income

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Zimbabwe in April, both public and private universities had no choice but to start manufacturing sanitisers and personal protective equipment (PPE) to plug a national shortage of the in-demand life-saving materials. Read more

Labour Unrest Grows Amid Sector’s Increasing Money Troubles

While the strike action of academic staff in Nigeria has entered its eighth month, rumblings of discontent from faculty and students in other countries have been emerging and growing louder amid increasing financial difficulties in the higher education sector. Read more

MSU Abandons Byo Medical School Project

The Midlands State University (MSU) has abandoned plans to open a medical school in Bulawayo but instead have indicated that it will be establishing a general campus in the city. Read more

MSU Degrees Chaos Divide Government

The discontinuation of the Midlands State University (MSU) media programme has reportedly divided government with stakeholders alleging that the move was political… Read more

NUST Study to Ease Water Crisis

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is set to release results of a 10-year study on Bulawayo’s underground water whose recommendations, if implemented, will ease the city’s water crisis. Read more

President Caps 1 347 at Bindura University

President Mnangagwa today capped 1 347 students at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) in an event filled day that saw him tour several projects that the institution is undertaking. Read more

Student Activist: ‘My 10 Days in Harare Remand Prison’

The Zimbabwean student activist Prince Gora was recently jailed for 10 days. Gora, a fourth-year chemical engineering student at the Harare Institute of Technology, is also a University World News journalist. He is one of several student activists who have been detained this year. Read more

UZ Partners AFD, Cirad

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has partnered with two French development agencies in a project that will strengthen the country’s surveillance and control system for animal, plant and zoonotic diseases. Read more

 

31 October 2020

GZU Factory Manufactures 30 000 PPEs

The newly commissioned Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) textile factory has so far manufactured 26 000 reusable face masks including personal protective equipment (PPEs) for medical personnel… Read more

Striking Registrars Ask to Return to Work, Studies

Postgraduate medical students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), striking over conditions in public hospitals, last week bowed to pressure and made an appeal to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to be allowed back into hospitals, and to be able to continue their studies.

Student Teachers Ask for More than Two Dollars a Month

Zimbabwean student teachers who are undergoing their practical teaching programme have once again petitioned parliament to push the President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led government to raise their monthly allowances currently pegged at ZWL$150, an amount equivalent to US$1.80. Read more

Universities to Reopen, But Staff ‘Cannot Afford to Work’

Zimbabwe lecturers have said they are unable to report for duty in the wake of the government’s announcement that all tertiary education institutions will reopen during the first week of October for face-to-face learning. Read more

Young Doctors to Return to Work After Public Apology to Minister

The dispute between suspended postgraduate medical students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the country’s Ministry of Health ended on 13 October, following a televised apology by the young doctors… Read more

 

30 September 2020

Govt Suspends Some of UZ Medical Courses

The government has with immediate effect suspended the University of Zimbabwe’s Masters of Medicine and Masters of Obstetrics and Gynecology programmes and banned enrolled students from accessing public hospitals. Read more

NUST Student Making Positive Social Impact Through WhatsApp

She calls herself Aunty Nyarie and reaches out to more than 700 women via six WhatsApp chat groups where she teaches them about the ideal  woman as inspired by the Bible… Read more

NUST Wins Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Grant

We are immensely proud to announce that NUST has won Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education grant. The Erasmus+ grants are part of European Union’s flagship funding programme.
Read more

Series of Student Arrests ‘Points to Erosion of Progressive Rights’

More than 30 Zimbabwean students protesting under the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter banner calling for freedom of expression, an end to corruption and better living conditions… Read more

Student Leaders, Activists are Living in Fear – Union

Student leaders say they are living in fear after the Zimbabwe government recently arrested a number of students, including a prominent student union leader, and was accused of being behind the abduction and torture of another. Read more

Universities Start Contact Classes for First-Year Students

Universities in Zimbabwe have opened their doors for conventional learning but only for first-year students and those writing end-of-first and second-semester exams. Read more

University Welcomes First-Year Students

The University Director of Residence, Ms M Vhiriri took time to explain to students COVID-19 protocols and guidelines that they are expected to adhere to during their stay at MSU. Read more

University of Zimbabwe Celebrates Peer Review Week

Peer Review Week is a yearly global event celebrating the essential role that peer review plays in maintaining scientific quality. Read more

 

30 August 2020

African Students Condemn State Sponsored Clampdown on Protests

A PAN AFRICAN body of university students has penned a message of solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe over government’s brutal and uneven’ response to protest over the deteriorating economic situation. Read more

Changes to Medical Degree Draw Criticism, Claims of Political Expediency

Two radical modifications in the training of medical doctors in Zimbabwe have caused a ruckus in the medical fraternity where they have been met with fierce disapproval. Read more

NUST Launches iStudyXR Online Teaching Course for Educators

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in partnership with InventXR from the Silicon Valley in the USA, has successfully launched an online teaching course to empower teachers and lecturers in Africa during the Covid-19 period and beyond. Read more

Varsity Students Reject ‘Elitist’ Online Examinations

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has written to the Ministry of Higher Education registering its disapproval over a government directive for all tertiary students to write their examinations online due to Covid-19. Read more

 

31 July 2020

Bank Offers Air Ticket Loans for Students Stranded Abroad

Zimbabwe’s CBZ Bank has established an ad-hoc loan facility to give families with students studying abroad – both self-funded and on government scholarships – the wherewithal to repatriate them. Read more

Conduct of Students During Examinations

NUST has developed some regulations to guide students as we prepare to write examinations during the Covid-19 period. Read more

Management of COVID-19

Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe on 21 July 2020 on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University wishes to advise staff and Students… Read more

Ministry Suspends All Contact Teaching in Universities

The Zimbabwean government has ordered all tertiary education institutions to stop face-to-face lectures on campuses immediately and proceed with e-learning as a safety measure to protect students and workers from a sudden spike in the number of cases of COVID-19. Read more

Students Say Online Learning is not Accessible to Everyone

E-learning, which has become the main teaching and learning modality since the closure of universities in March, is only a good option if everyone is able to access it, according to Zimbabwean students attending a recent virtual dialogue about the impact of lockdown on students facilitated by the Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT). Read more

 

30 June 2020

Concerns Over Reopening of Campuses Unite Student Unions

Three medical students have tested positive for COVID-19 amid opposition by student unions to the Zimbabwe government’s decision to reopen institutions of higher learning, saying it may backfire due to a lack of adequate health and safety measures on campus. Read more

Student Teachers Petition Parliament Over ‘Slave’ Allowance

Zimbabwean student teachers undergoing their practical teaching programme have petitioned parliament over their deteriorating conditions of service, arguing that they are overlooked in key discussions with teacher unions because they are still part of the student body. Read more

 

31 May 2020

Government Asks for Zero-Rating Deals for Students

The Zimbabwe government is awaiting feedback from telecommunication companies which have been asked to provide free access for university students to online learning material and university websites. Read more

GZU Gets Radio Licence

Great Zimbabwe University has become the first Zimbabwean university to get a broadcasting licence to operate its “GZU Campus Radio” station that will help it reach out to its students. Read more

Manpower Development Bill Expected to Transform Tertiary Education

Government has crafted the Manpower Development Bill to realign the tertiary education system so that it becomes skills-based and contributes to the country’s industrial growth. Read more

MSU Press Begins Nationwide Distribution of Covid-19 Awareness Booklets

As part of national efforts to raise awareness on the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Midlands State University Press has begun distribution of COVID-19 information booklets. Read more

Students Reject Online Learning as Data Costs Hiked by 225%

Students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have written to the institution’s authorities asking them to defer plans for e-learning because they cannot afford the cost of the internet. The students have descried as “unjustified” the latest increase by 225% of mobile data tariffs by Econet Wireless, a leading mobile network operator. Read more

Women Make Strides in HE, but Sexual Harassment Still Rife

Before Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party came to power in 1980, its Women’s League declared that for the revolution to triumph in its totality, there must be emancipation of women. Read more

Universities, Colleges to Open for Final-Year Students

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa will allow individual institutions of higher learning to reopen to final-year students who are sitting public examinations as long as they can prove their capacity to meet safety regulations – a move that has met with mixed responses from lecturers and students. Read more

Use of Colleges as Quarantine Centres Exposes System Decay

The government has turned several Zimbabwean universities and colleges into quarantine centres for COVID-19 amid the shortage of facilities, in the process exposing the sorry state of some higher educational facilities. Read more

 

30 April 2020

Government Ropes in Universities to Fight COVID-19

The Zimbabwe government has made available an initial ZW$33 million (U$S1.3 million, according to the official exchange rate) in seed capital to state universities to make personal protective equipment (PPE) to ameliorate a national shortage of the materials needed to fight the coronavirus. Read more

Govt Pushes for Online University Lectures

Government has advised all universities to develop materials for online lectures to ensure learning is not disrupted by the lockdown while minimising movement and interaction between students and lecturers. Read more

How Young Women are Leading Change in Attitudes from Zimbabwe’s Universities

Traditional gender norms and gender-based discrimination are still pervasive, especially in rural areas according to recent research carried out by FSNT and the Zimbabwe National Commission to UNESCO. Read more 

Student Bodies Say E-Learning is Unaffordable and Elitist

The adoption of e-learning as an innovative means to continue teaching and learning during the national lockdowns affecting many African countries has been rejected by a number of student organisations, which argue it is unaffordable, impractical and elitist. Read more

Universities Offer Quarantine Sanctuary

Government has designated local universities and other institutions of higher learning as temporary quarantine venues for all returning residents as part of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, as Zimbabwe intensifies measures to ensure the 21-day lockdown is a success. Read more

 

31 March 2020

COVID-19: Statement on the Temporary Closure of the University of Zimbabwe

The University of Zimbabwe will close on Tuesday 24 March 2020. Read more

Educational Information: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

What is COVID-19? Read more

Partaking in Community Projects …

“Partaking in community projects, a fruitful exercise……” says NUST lecturer. Read more

Some Relief for Zimbabwean Students Still in China

Zimbabwean students trapped in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, which has been in lockdown since 23 January, are receiving extra funds from their government to help them cope with their indefinite isolation. Read more

Standoff with Medical Students ‘Could Hurt Health System’

The training of senior medical students at the University of Zimbabwe’s College of Health Sciences has been plunged into disarray and stakeholders fear that a protracted standoff with students could severely destabilise the country’s already ailing health system. Read more

Under Pressure, Government Closes Universities and Schools

Schools and tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe will be shut down from Tuesday 24 March as a precaution to contain the spread of COVID-19 after parents and other education sector stakeholders contested their continued operation. Read more

‘University Fees are Cheap’ – Higher Education Minister

Zimbabwe’s Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Amon Murwira has defended the recent tuition fee hike by local universities. Read more

 

29 February 2020

Economic Crisis Puts Students’ Future in Doubt

“Open for business” is the mantra that Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has coined for his ZANU PF-led administration, also known as the “new dispensation”, but as universities ready themselves for the start of the first semester, the big question is: will they have any “clients”? Read more

Lupane State University Relocates More Faculties to Lupane Campus

Lupane State University has announced that it has relocated more other faculties to the Lupane campus with effect from early this month. Read more

MSU & Zvishavane Town Council Collaborate in Urban Planning & Development Research

In a development that is set to positively impact the country’s urban planning and development landscape, Midlands State University in collaboration with urban authorities is undertaking research aimed at creating urban profiles for Zimbabwean towns and cities. Read more

MSU Conducts Quality Assurance Induction Workshop

Midlands State University held a quality assurance induction workshop for newly appointed academic department chairpersons to help familiarise them with the institution’s performance standards. Read more

NUST Lectures Declares Incapacitation

The National University of Science and Technology Educators’ Association (NUSTEDA) today officially declared incapacitation on behalf of all NUST teaching staff. Read more

Universities Adopt Ambitious Internationalisation Targets

Higher education institutions in Zimbabwe have set themselves a target of June this year to put in place over 10 policies that are considered critical in paving the way for the full-scale internationalisation of the country’s higher education. Read more

Universities in Fresh Bid to Hike Fees

State universities in Zimbabwe could end up charging up to Z$15,000 a semester once all ancillary fees, accommodation and meals have been factored in. Read more

 

31 January 2020

Ambassador Brian Nichols Delivers a Lecture to Africa University…

Africa University was honored to have the United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols visit the main campus as a guest lecturer… Read more

Curricula Review Delays Intake of First-Year Students

Zimbabwe’s universities have deferred to August the traditional February intake of first-year students in order to review curricula and align them with the country’s new higher education framework. Read more

Government Caps Fees After Universities Moot Own Fee Hike

Zimbabwe’s government has capped university student fees for tuition and accommodation at Z$5,000 (approximately US$200), with tuition fees in particular not exceeding Z$1,200 per semester and has announced it will make available Z$90 million for student loans. Read more

Govt Finalises Tertiary Fees

Government has finalised the tertiary institutions tuition fee structure, a move that is meant to end speculation and confusion on the exact amount to be paid to institutions of higher learning. Read more

Manicaland Varsity to Get Farm in Chipinge

MANICALAND State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) is set to secure a 155-hectare farm from Government to facilitate and enhance its multi-campus approach. Read more

MSU Honours Workers

The year began on a high note for long-serving employees of the Midlands State University with the institution recognizing their faithful and selfless dedication to duty since its inception in 1999. Their efforts and hard work were recognized at the first-ever Long Service Awards Ceremony. held at the University Main Campus in Gweru on the 11^th of January 2019. Read more

MSU-TMMRI signs MoU with Aquaculture Zimbabwe, CRDC and JHWO

The Tugwi Mukosi Multidisciplinary Research Institute (TMMRI) successfully signed a memorandum of understanding with Aquaculture Zimbabwe, Chivi Rural District Council (CRDC) and Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO)… Read more

NUST Receives Equipment from Ministry

Yesterday the National University of Science and Technology took delivery of machining, fabrication and food processing equipment that was handed over by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Medium Enterprises… Read more

NUST to Host Waternet Symposium 2020

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) through the Department of Civil and Water Engineering has won a bid to host the 21st WaterNet/ WARSA/GWP symposium which will be held in Victoria Falls from the 28th to the 30th of October 2020. Read more

 

31 December 2019

No End to Chaos Affecting Final-Year Medical Students

High-level attempts to entice doctors and medical lecturers in Zimbabwe back to work and final-year medical students into examination halls have failed, with both parties pointing to the absence of a long-term solution. Read more

NUST Student Hails Vali/Mandela Fellowship and Unleash

A National University of Science and Technology student has hailed her recent participation at the Mandela Washington Fellowship programme for Young African Leaders in the USA as professionally rewarding and fulfilling. Read more

 

30 November 2019

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Law Students, Won the 2019 All Africa International Humanitarian Law Competition

The GZU Team, which is coached by specialist litigator, Mr ZvobgoTawanda Zvobgo beat eight top law schools from across Africa… Read more

Medical Students Await Court Decision on Examinations

Medical students in Zimbabwe are awaiting the outcome of their court action against the government in which they seek the suspension of their end-of-year examinations on the basis that they have not received proper training due to the ongoing strike by doctors and lecturers. Read more

UNESCO to Launch Zimbabwe Flood and Drought Monitor

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Honourable Perence Shiri is expected to deliver a keynote address at the launch ceremony that will also be attended by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development… Read more

 

31 October 2019

African Researchers Urged to Resist ‘Dependency Paradigm’

Researchers at African universities have been urged to produce their own learning materials and end heavy reliance on foreign books and educational materials produced elsewhere. Read more

NUST Students Protest Over 700% Increase in Graduation Fees

National University of Science and Technology (NUST) students, who are expecting to graduate on November 8, have petitioned their administration over exorbitant graduation fees which they described as more like punishment for learning at the institution. Read more

Student Menus Stripped of Meat as Hyperinflation bites

Food standards at tertiary education institutions in Zimbabwe have taken a knock, with many, particularly government-run institutions, struggling in the context of hyperinflation to provide students with decent meals. Read more

ThJue 2019 ZTISU Darts Champions Receive an Equipment Boost from Carling Black

The DELTA Carling Black Label has awarded National University of Science and Technology’s ladies darts team with three dart boards for being the 2019 Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union (ZTISU) games champions. Read more

Under Pressure, University Reinstates Medical Academics

The University of Zimbabwe has bowed to pressure and lifted the suspension of two senior lecturers accused of inciting medical students to go on strike after the country’s two main medical groups said the suspensions would undermine the training of surgeons in Zimbabwe. Read more

ZANU PF Forces University Students to Attend Anti-Sanctions Demonstrations

The ZANU PF Government has issued a circular instructing every University to release 500 students per campus to attend the Anti-sanctions march scheduled for Friday. Read more

Zimbabwe Gender Commission Comes to NUST

Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has urged National University of Science and Technology to come up with ways of dealing with cases of sexual harassment within the institution. Read more

 

30 September 2019

ADEA leads a Peer Review on Education Management Information Systems in Zimbabwe

The Task Force on Education Management and Policy Support (TFEMPS) of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe through its line ministries responsible for education and training, successfully peer reviewed the country’s Education Management Information System (EMIS). Read more

Higher Education in Zimbabwe: Shifting with New Thrusts and Dynamics

Higher Education in Zimbabwe has expanded phenomenally since the attainment of political independence in 1980. Most of the growth took place from the mid-1990’s, during the period when the World Bank and international development agents were advocating for basic and primary education rather than higher education. Read more

Mugabe – ‘From Glory to Misery, Especially for Students’

While critics and fans alike admit that he laid a strong foundation for higher education and contributed significantly to the expansion of the higher education sector in Zimbabwe, the late former president Robert Mugabe also went on to undo many of his own achievements. Read more

Mugabe Needs to be Saluted for Bringing Quality Education to Zimbabwe

I salute former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe’s efforts to bring about quality education during his tenure as president. Read more

Plans for ‘Robert Mugabe University’ May be Revived

Plans to construct a university in Zimbabwe named after the late former president Robert Mugabe that were shelved after he was toppled in a military coup in 2017 may be revived following his death. Read more

Salary Review for State Universities’ Staff

The Zimbabwe government has called on teaching staff at state universities and colleges to be patient as the process to review their conditions of service is underway. Read more

Surviving Study Abroad – As a Student and a New Mother

In Zimbabwe, me grew up in a strict and religious environment where girls were given timelines on when to settle down and has a family but never encouragement to better themselves. Read more

 

31 August 2019

Fees Freeze and Inflation Put Universities Under Pressure

Zimbabwe’s universities are choking under a blanket undergraduate fee freeze imposed by the government as the country struggles with inflation of over 175%. The government has said there will be no fee hike until new student payments modalities has been worked out. Read more

State Universities Draw IRE Over President’s Honorary PhDs

Zimbabwean state universities have been criticised for dishing out four honorary degrees to President Emmerson Mnangagwa since he came to power less than two years ago after the army ousted former president Robert Mugabe. Read more

 

31 July 2019

Inflation Forces CBZ to Reduce Its Offer to Support Student Grants

Government’s move to re-introduce student grants could have hit turbulent waters after a local bank that had promised to support the programme reduced its pledge from 10 times to just double of the seed money availed by authorities citing inflation. Read more

Our Education Must Work for Us

In the wake of a depressed industry characterised by low productivity and endless importation of goods and services, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira has reiterated the need to get our education system to work for the nation as it moves to become a middle-income economy…Read more

Some Degrees and Diplomas to be Abolished

Higher and Tertiary Education minister Amon Murwira has said educational qualifications offered by institutions of higher learning that do not offer practical solutions to the development of the country’s economy will, in the long run, be phased out. Read more

University Staffers Say, They Cannot Afford to Work

University workers in Zimbabwe say their salaries has been seriously eroded by inflation – so much so they can no longer subsist on them, let alone report for work. Read more

 

30 June 2019

Combining Industry and Academic Excellence: Africa University Shines at ZNCC Awards

AU was recognized for its transformation into a hub for training, business enterprise and its effortless ability to seamlessly integrate industry and higher education though its Business Academy and online programme offerings at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Awards held in the city of Mutare. Read more

Faculty of Health Enactus Attend Africa Green Waste & Energy Conference

Sanu Faculty of Health Sciences Enactus students attend Africa green waste and energy conference & green expo. Read more

Masters Student Held on Treason Charge Misses Graduation

A Zimbabwean masters student and civil society activist has been charged with treason for allegedly planning to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government. Read more

Student Housing – Raising Standards and Sharing the Load

Higher education regulator and quality assurance agency, the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) is leading efforts to develop norms and standards for student accommodation at universities to address the widely varying standards of housing for students across the higher education sector. Read more

Substantive Vice Chancellor for the University of Zimbabwe Appointed

The Chairman of the University of Zimbabwe Council, Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka, is pleased to announce the appointment by His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa, of Professor Paul Mapfumo (pictured) as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe. Read more

 

31 May 2019

Africa University Continues to Lead in Environmental Awareness and Conservation Initiatives

Africa University successfully conducted its fourth clean-up campaign of the year led by the university’s Library and IT Departments. The initiative was started by Dr Zanele Furusa who is a Head Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Studies and an advocate for environmental protection and awareness. Read more

AU Showcases Innovation, Research and Enterprise Development Geared Towards Community Empowerment and Engagement

A team of seven representatives drawn from across the various units of Africa University travelled to Bulawayo to take part in the 60th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). Read more

Midlands State University Celebrates Cultural Diversity

It was pomp and funfair on Tuesday, the 21^st and Wednesday, the 22^nd of May 2019 in Zvishavane and Gweru respectively as members of the Midlands State University community celebrated their cultural diversity with a series of festivities aimed at advancing arts, culture and heritage. Read more

Midlands State University to Partner North-West University

The Midlands State University (MSU) and North-West University (NWU) of South Africa have begun talks to establish a relationship that will see the two institutions collaborating in a number of areas. Read more

MSU Language Institute Set to Promote Indigenous Languages & Culture

The Midlands State University Language Institute, which was officially commissioned at the Gweru Main Campus on Monday, the 6th of May 2019 by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Victor Muzvidziwa is set to significantly contribute to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages and culture. Read more

Tariro NeGitare Talks about Music

Tariro NeGitare says women in the music industry, face many challenges that include stigmatisation, sexual abuse and are often denied, the much-needed moral support and encouragement from their families. Read more

 

30 April 2019

Government to Fund Innovators

This was revealed by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira when he delivered a public lecture at the Midlands State University`s Gweru Main Campus. Read more

MSU Employs Conflicted Labour Officer

MIDLANDS State University (MSU)has come under fire for employing a Gweru-based labour officer who has been handling cases raised against the institution by close to 100 workers. Read more

University Students Fed Up over non-Payment of Allowances

University students in Zimbabwe are unhappy with the government for defaulting on its latest promise to pay allowances to students on industrial attachment. Read more

 

31 March 2019

Accommodation Portal a Boon for Students

After a year-long pilot, an accommodation portal founded by two students in partnership with the Midlands State University (MSU) in Zimbabwe has proved so successful, it has now been monetised. Read more

Students with a Passion for Realising Gender Empowerment

Tanyaradzwa Chinyukwi, 24, grew up in an environment in southern Zimbabwe, where life was tough and girls were always looked down upon. Read more

Universities Upgrade to Boost Global Competitiveness

Zimbabwe has set an ambitious path to upgrade its higher learning institutions to world-class facilities that are fully equipped with shopping malls, cafeterias, hotels and modern student quarters, writes Tanaka Nyambo for The Sunday Mail. Read more

 

28 February 2019

Destitute Students Abroad Struggle to Stay Within the Law

In a warning to parents against sending their children abroad without adequate financial resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said many Zimbabwean nationals were being arrested, imprisoned and detained in foreign countries for crimes ranging from being in the country illegally to vandalism and illegal employment. Read more

MSU Hosts Inception Workshop

The Midlands State University “Inception Workshop” for Higher Education Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa has been officially opened amid efforts by the Faculty of Mining and Minerals Processing Engineering to enhance the quality of engineering education so that such programmes in universities and colleges can match and advance current and future industry needs. Read more

University of Zimbabwe Wins us$3 Million Grant

The Partnership in Education Training and Research Advancement (PETRA) programme led by the College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe has done the University of Zimbabwe and the nation proud by winning a whooping US$3 million research grant. Read more

 

31 January 2019

Economic Crisis Is Forcing HE Students to Drop Out

Many students in Zimbabwe are facing the prospect of having to forgo their university studies in favour of their siblings’ education as the country’s economic meltdown continues to bite. Read more

Government Lifts Moratorium on Recruitment of Academics

Zimbabwe’s treasury has reversed its five-year-long freeze on the recruitment of university teaching staff, allowing universities to recruit about 350 lecturers to bolster capacity and improve service delivery in the country’s burgeoning higher education sector. Read more

NUST Students Design App That Allows Customers To Buy LP Gas From Home, Invent Gas Leak Detection And Monitoring Device “Memeza”

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Enactus club have designed an application called “Need Energy Express” that allows consumers to buy Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas from the comfort of their homes. Read more

Outrage Over Russian Scholarship HIV Test Requirements

Russia’s requirement that Zimbabwean students provide results of their HIV status as part of the application process for scholarships to study in that country has been condemned by Zimbabwean AIDS activists, prompting a call for African countries to “forgo” scholarships offered under such conditions. Read more

Women Bear the Brunt of Ongoing HIV Crisis on Campuses

High rates of HIV infections among students on university campuses are being fuelled by HIV-positive students on “revenge missions”, while others, mainly first-year women, are actively being targeted by older students in what is known as “the Gold Rush”, according to local university sources. Read more

Zimbabwe’s Unemployed Graduates Hope for 2019 Better Zimbabwe

Calls for equipping the girl child with educational skills have been growing louder across the world with Zimbabwe being one of the countries to partake in the ‘‘every girl child in school campaign.’’ Read more

 

31 December 2018

After Mugabe – ‘Not Much has Changed in HE’

A year after the departure of Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe after 37 years in power, opinion is divided on how much progress the new government under Emmerson Mnangagwa has made in reforming the country’s struggling higher education sector. Read more

MSU Set to Introduce Dual Honours Degrees

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) has commended Midlands State University led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor V. N. Muzvidziwa for its quest to introduce fifteen (15) dual honours degree programmes that are in line with the country’s entrepreneurship, modernisation and industrialisation agenda. Read more

Universities Paralysed by Low Budget Allocation – Report

Underfunding and low budget release by Zimbabwe’s treasury are shackling capital expenditure projects at universities and curtailing skills training and development for institutions of higher learning, a report by a parliamentary committee has said. Read more

 

30 November 2018

Gay Association Launches Scholarships for LGBTI Students

Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), the association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, has announced a scholarship programme for gay students pursuing studies at state universities. Read more

SA Can Learn a Thing or Two from Zimbabwe’s Education System

As the regime of Robert Mugabe crumbled unexpectedly before our very eyes, I could not help but recall why I left my university in California to do my doctoral fieldwork in rural Zimbabwe about a decade after the end of white rule. Read more

What Next for Zimbabwe’s ‘Tainted’ Higher Education System?

When Mugabe became the first president of the independent Zimbabwe in 1980, one of his early speeches proclaimed education as a basic human right. Highly educated himself, he became the chancellor of all Zimbabwean universities. However, long before the fateful military intervention last week, it appears that he had lost all credibility among academics and students. Read more

Women’s NGO Fights Sexual Harassment at Universities

Katswe Sistahood, a women-focused non-governmental organisation, has set up a campus programme aimed at addressing the myriad challenges facing women students in Zimbabwean higher and tertiary education institutions, including widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. Read more

 

31 October 2018

ED Reads Riot Act to Universities

President Mnangagwa yesterday challenged universities to stop taking pride in high enrolment figures and glamorous infrastructure and focus on providing answers to the country’s aspirations. Read more

Minister Unveils Ambitious Plans for Higher Education

Zimbabwe’s new and extensive development plans include creating innovation hubs at universities, upgrading student accommodation, making higher education more affordable for students and establishing the country’s first geospatial and space agency. Read more

Youth Speak Forum held at NUST

NUST Placement Office, in collaboration with International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC)-Islamabad Chapter, organised a Youth Speak Forum. Read more

NUST Holds International Conference HONET-ICT 2018

In collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), USA, and under the technical sponsorship of Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and IEEE Communications Society, NUST School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (SEECS) held “15th International Conference on High-capacity Optical Networks & Enabling/Emerging Technologies (HONET-ICT)”.  Read more

 

30 September 2018

President Announces Further Boost to National Research

Zimbabwe’s new president has announced that his government will enact a law establishing a research institute that will contribute towards the economic growth that will turn the country into a middle-income nation by 2030. Read more

Universities Require Thought, Action – Zim Minister

A university is a place where people think and do things and not where they look nice and use big words to appear educated, says Zimbabwe’s Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murirwa. Read more

 

31 August 2018

President Suspends Vice-Chancellor Over Grace Mugabe PhD

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has suspended University of Zimbabwe Vice-chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura for allegedly awarding former first lady Grace Mugabe a doctor of philosophy degree ‘corruptly’ in 2014. Read more

 

30 June 2018

FakeLeaks: ZIMSEC Says There Was a Fake Exam Paper Circulating on WhatsApp as a Leaked Copy

Last year’s October/November general exam session was somewhat messy. Besides the confusion over the ‘new curriculum’ there were several allegations of papers having leaked and that such papers had found… Read more

University of Birmingham and Zimbabwe

The University has a long tradition of welcoming students from Zimbabwe. Read more

 

31 May 2018

Nobel laureate James Buchanan is the intellectual linchpin of the Koch-funded attack on democratic institutions, argues Duke historian Nancy MacLean

Ask people to name the key minds that have shaped America’s burst of radical right-wing attacks on working conditions, consumer rights and public services, and they will typically mention figures like free market-champion Milton Friedman, libertarian guru Ayn Rand, and laissez-faire economists Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises. Read more

The Focus of Academic Economics: Before and After the Crisis

To answer this question we employ a bibliometric approach and compare the content and orientation of economic literature before and after the crisis with reference to two different samples:… Read more

Plans for multi-billion rand Mugabe university shelved

Plans for a new $1 bn university to be built and named in honour of former president Robert Mugabe have been put on ice and are unlikely to be revived. Zimbabwe already has 14 so-called universities, but ‘degrees’ from most of them are largely unrecognised outside Zimbabwe, as educational standards crashed over the last 25 years. Read more

International Conference on Communication and Information Science – 2018

The Faculty of Communication and Information Science at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) will be hosting its 8th annual International Conference on Communication and Information Science. This conference to be run under the theme: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Development will be held at the HICC in Harare, Zimbabwe, from the 21st to the 23rd of August 2018. Read more

Bridging the Gap between Industry and Academia

As the country continues to work towards economic recovery through modernisation and industrialisation, the need to bridge the gap between academia and industry has become critical in order to come up with practical and innovative solutions that address real life challenges. Read more

 

30 April 2018

Nyagura Fights for His Freedom. . . Likewise Chidhakwa, Gudyanga

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura, who is accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PhD, yesterday notified the court of his intention to apply for refusal of further remand on the next court date. Read more

Unesco Mobilises Academics to Promote Heritage Protection in Africa

Unesco’s World Heritage Centre will this week be hosting a heritage workshop as part of its mandate to promote culture and education in Africa. Read more

Mobility Scheme Shows Results, but Challenges Persist

An impressive 1,255 African beneficiaries, including 722 masters and 346 doctoral students and 187 staff, have gained from a continent-wide mobility scheme implemented over seven years as a joint initiative of the African Union and European Union. But challenges to the mobility of academic staff and students and the greater harmonization of higher education systems persist on the continent, according to a recent report. Read more

US$5 Million Allocated for University Technology Hubs

The Zimbabwe government has set aside more than US$5 million to put in place technology hubs at six state-run universities in a move that it hopes will spearhead the country’s industrialization and modernization. Read more

Thumbs Up to MSU Growth Strategy: Dr Eve Gadzikwa

The Midlands State University growth strategy received a thump up from one of Zimbabwe’s renowned expert in corporate strategy and corporate governance, Dr Eve Gadzikwa. Speaking at a public lecture, on Corporate Governance, held at the Management Training Bureau on Saturday, 21 April 2018, Dr Gadzikwa, brought a wealth of knowledge spanning from her experience with companies such Standards Association of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).

University Participates at ZITF 2018

Midlands State University was among organizations and institutions that took part in the 2018 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), held in Bulawayo from the 24th to the 28th of April.

 

30 December 2017

Chiredzi Welcomes Proposed Varsity Construction

Chiredzi residents have welcomed the proposed construction of a $15 million university focusing on science and agricultural studies in the town. Read more

Grooming Learners for Corporate World

Beyond the classroom content, there is a need to equip learners with skills that open up opportunities for them in the world they are being prepared for. Proper grooming, social skills and etiquette go a long way in positioning people for opportunities. Read more

Students Pin Hopes on President Mnangagwa

Tertiary education is becoming more expensive and inaccessible to the majority of the poor. As a result of this, there are now growing calls for the reintroduction of students’ grants for college, university and vocational training institutions. Read more

UK Network Calls for Student-Friendly Government Policies

The Zim-UK Students Network, a collective of Zimbabweans studying in the UK, says it hopes the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa will usher in a new government administration that places students as a top priority in its policies. Read more

VCs Pledge to Complement Govt

Vice Chancellors of State universities have pledged to complement Government’s economic revival initiatives through promoting research and development in technology. Read more

 

30 October 2017

15 New Degrees at Varsities

Curriculum reviews at local universities have resulted in the introduction of over 15 new degrees in line with Government’s efforts to ensure that higher education facilitates the country’s industrialisation and modernisation programme. Read more

Critics Take Aim at New Scholarships Ministry

Academics, student unions and opposition parties have condemned the creation by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe of a new ministry – of National Scholarships – against the backdrop of the country’s ongoing economic woes. Read more

Lutheran Varsity on the Cards

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe wants to establish a university in Mberengwa to complement Government’s efforts of making higher education available for all. Read more

Mugabe Acts on Scholarship Students’ Plight

President Mugabe has taken measures to normalize the living conditions of students studying in Russia and China. Read more

Students Ready for Mugabe Interface

Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) says it is ready to meet President Robert Mugabe as announced by the Zanu PF youth league that they are planning for students interface rallies at universities. Read more

Police Clearance to Apply For Harare Poly

Harare Polytechnic College has asked all prospective students to seek police clearance in order to have their applications considered. In a circular for the 2018 enrolment requirements, the college advised that all courses required. Read more

Police Need Training To Detect Cyber Crimes

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) needs to train officers capable of detecting and neutralising cyber crimes, Police Commissioner-General was speaking at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Staff College graduation ceremony in Harare. Read more

President Caps 1 965 at Bindura State University

President Mugabe conferred degrees on 1965 graduates at the 16^th Bindura University of Science Education graduation ceremony. Read more

President Lifts Freeze on Academic Staff Recruitment

President Mugabe has lifted the freeze on academic staff recruitment for all programmes that have been approved by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE). Read more

Zimbabwean Students in Russia Engaging in Prostitution For Survival

Zimbabwean students studying in Russia under the presidential scholarship have reportedly gone for over a year without receiving any financial support from the government, with some turning to immoral activities to survive. Read more

 

15 October 2017

Government Injects $3m Into Teacher Devlopment

Government has invested @3 million in teacher capacity development programme to enable them effectively teach vernacular languages that have been included in the education system. Read more

Ministry Bemoans Disbursement Of Funds

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has bemoaned the delayed disbursement of funds by Government for construction work at State Universities. Read more

President Caps 3 445 GZU Graduates

President Mugabe yesterday capped 3 445 Great Zimbabwe University graduates at the institution’s colourful graduation ceremony held at the university’s permanent site near Great Zimbabwe. Read more

President Caps 418 HIT Graduates

President Mugabe yesterday capped 418 Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) graduates at a colourful ceremony held at the university campus. Read more

STEM: Foundation for a Progressive Future

Following a successful learning and familiarization tour of international industry universities, the ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and Universities held eight joint luncheon across the country. Read more

Universities To Change Curriculum

Universities are set to change their curriculum and ensure the setting up of a national research system that responds to the country’s pressing needs in all aspects of the economy. Read more

ZNA Targets Combat Efficiency

The Zimbabwe National Army is equipping its combat engineers with relevant knowledge in civil engineering for efficiency in both combat and civil engineering assignments.

Read more

 

30 September 2017

African Universities Education With A Purpose

What Africa needs is a ranking system that measures universities relative to their success in achieving Africa’s own goals, not one that aims to replicate institutions that were built for a different context and different time. Read more

Colleges Told To Adapt To Technological Changes

Industrial training colleges should adapt to technological changes in order for them to survive. Read more

IDBZ Commissions 12m-Byo Students Residential-Project

The government is working on recapitalising the infrastructure development bank of Zimbabwe to enable it to fulfil its mandate of funding for infrastructure projects. Read more

Masters Degree New Status Symbol

Undergraduate students yet to complete their first degrees are already mulling what masters degree they could pursue before they go through their first academic hurdle. Read more

Nust Lecturers Suspend Strike

The government has given the National University of Science and Technology two months to find common ground with institution’s lecturers who ended their strike after accusing to managers of mismanagement. Read more

President Extends Zvobgos Tenure At GZU

Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has extended Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo’s term of office by another six years. Read more

Vocational Training Key To-Socio Economic Growth

The government should invest more in Vocational education training to promote sustainable socio-economic growth across all sectors. Read more

 

31 August 2017

A Curriculum for Empowerment

President Mugabe hailed the new education curriculum saying it fosters entrepreneurship and opens up opportunities for Zimbabweans to be skillful and innovative. Read more

After Fake Phd Allegations, General Chiwenga Says No Bad Blood Between Him And Moyo

There is no bad blood between the Commander of the National Defence Forces and higher education minister. Read more

Bridging the Industry, Lecture Room Gap

There have been concerns over a disconnect on university graduate skills and job requirements of specific industries. As a result, conversations around the state of academia in Zimbabwe have often included the phrase “half-baked” graduates. Read more

Further Your Education Like Chiwenga, Soldiers Urged

President Mugabe urged members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to take a cue from their Commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, and further their education to achieve academic excellence. Read more

Govt Works on Bill to Transform Education System

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development is working on a bill which seeks to transform the country’s education system into an engine that will drive industrial growth. Read more

IIZ to Set Up Insurance School

The Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe is transforming into a fully-fledged training institution to cater for the dynamic needs of the industry with plans already underway to set up a school in Harare. Read more

Mutare Poly on Track

Mutare Polytechnic principal, MsPonisoWatema, has said the college is in the right path of fulfilling the SADC Protocol advocating for improved skills relevant for the industry. Read more

NAM Science Indaba Begins Today

The second Non-Aligned Movement Science and Technology technical meeting on industrial biotechnology kicks off today in Harare with focus on ways to promote value addition and beneficiation among member states. Read more

NUST Considers Enrolling 20% Foreign Students

The National University of Science and Technology (Nust) is considering enrolling 20 percent of its students from abroad in a bid to increase its revenue base as it strives to revert to its founding mandate of providing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Read more

Rising Demand, State Funding Cuts Fuel Rise of Christian Universities

The last two decades have seen a brisk growth in Christian universities in sub-Saharan Africa. This phenomenon exists at the intersection of two of the most dynamic social trends on the continent: the rapid rise of Christian adherence and the volatile growth of higher education. Read more

Tips on Choosing Degree/Course

A number of students recently collected their June results and those who passed A-Level exams will be looking at proceeding to university or colleges. There are many issues to consider when choosing a degree or course. Read more

Varsities Urged to Research on Councils’ Challenges

Universities have been implored to use research to address dysfunctionalities currently bedevilling local authorities countrywide as well as gathering data needed to aid town planning to solve the challenge of illegal settlements. Read more

Zimre to Put Out Tender for Nicoz House Refurbishment

Zimre Property Investment (ZPI) will soon be going to tender for the refurbishment of Nicoz House Bulawayo into a student accommodation facility that will offer 94 beds. Read more

 

15 August 2017

250 Illegal Colleges Shut Down

Foundation College, the prestigious Girls College and Dominican Convent High School are part of 251 private and independent training institutions which have been closed with immediate effect for non- compliance with the country’s registration and operation procedures. Read more

College Press Answers New Curriculum Call

Although no single definition may be said to be holistic in the explanation of the complex phenomenon known as curriculum, it can be simply referred to as a course of study or plan for what is to be taught in an educational institution. Read more

Grandiose Sinister Schemers and Their Wild-Card Billion-Dollar University

In light of all circumstances surrounding Zimbabwe, the answer to the question is so obvious that mentioning it here is an insult to everyone’s intelligence. So, the question that follows is: are the proponents of this university stupid or what? For those not in the know, Zimbabwe’s minister of higher education announced that Mugabe’s cabinet had approved the construction of a private university named after him. Read more

Govt Backtracks On Illegal Colleges

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has back-tracked on its announcement on Monday that it will shut down 251 private and independent colleges. Read more

Hillside Teachers’ College ‘discovers’ forgotten land

Authorities at Hillside Teachers’ College have “discovered” a forgotten piece land belonging to the institution, 25 years after it was donated by Government. Read more

More Students Access Internet on Phones than Laptops

More students access the internet on their mobile phones than laptops or tablets. Education that does not embrace this reality is not meeting students where they are. Read more

Mugabe’s $1 Billion University – Plan Too Late to Salvage Battered Legacy

There is a rush by President Robert Mugabe’s lieutenants to salvage his legacy, and the latest ploy in that race – a university named after him – may cost the taxpayer at least $1 billion. Read more

Officials in Trouble Over Schools Closure Advert

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has said officials who unprocedurally flighted an advertisement announcing that the Government had closed 251 private schools will not go unpunished. Read more

Polytechs’ Bid to Turn Into Varsities Rejected

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has rejected a request by polytechnics to be transformed into universities, saying there was a danger of lowering the country’s education standards. Read more

RGM University to Be Private Institution

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Jonathan Moyo has assured the nation that Government will not neglect state universities and concentrate on the new private Robert Gabriel Mugabe University. Read more

State Varsities Need Comprehensive Approach

A good measure of strides that a country takes towards economic growth and development is multi-dimensional for it points to equity in terms of resource allocation, literacy rates, and rise in GDP and GNP figures, to mention only a few things. Read more

Teachers’ Colleges Urged to be Ready For Degree Programmes

Teachers’ colleges should make sure they meet the required standards and expectations before they consider offering degree programmes at their institutions, University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor has said. Read more

Zim to Host NAM Science Indaba

Zimbabwe will this month host the second Non-Aligned Movement Science and Technology technical meeting on industrial biotechnology to promote value addition and beneficiation among member states. Read more

Zimbabwe to Spend $1bn on University to Honour Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped government plans to spend $1bn (£770m) on building a university to honour President Robert Mugabe, 93. Read more

 

15 July 2017

Govt Wants Ex-Students to Pay Back Fees to Be Used As Revolving Fund

Government wants former students who received State funding during their studies to pay back a flat fee amounting to $1000 to be used as a revolving fund to benefit students. Read more

Higher Learning Institutions Move towards Transformation

The university has also confirmed that the degree programme will be complemented by short courses in financial, economic and business reporting that the institution will start offering. Read more

IIZ Set To Unveil New Curriculum

The Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe (IIZ) is set to unveil a new curriculum that responds to the changing needs of the industry. Read more

Polytechs Urged To Increase STEM Courses Enrolment

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has asked higher learning institutions to consider increasing enrolment figures for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses. Read more

Principal Retires After 45 Years of Service

KWEKWE Polytechnic College principal Mr Joyce Cephas Mbudzi (65) is retiring after 45 years of service, 17 of them at the Midlands institution. Read more

Second University for Manicaland

Manicaland University of Applied Sciences, which all along was being hosted by Midlands State University, is now a stand-alone institution following the recent appointment of a council led by revered academic Professor Rukudzo Murapa. Read more

Zim Battles Fake Doctors Scourge Amid Scramble for Ph.Ds

JACOB Mutisi did not celebrate when he received an unsolicited letter inviting him to a so-called leadership seminar by the London Graduate School that could have seen him earning a doctorate in just two days. Read more

 

30 June 2017

Bata Shoes Company MD Visits MSU

Bata Shoe Company Managing Director Mr Zaman Ehasan accompanied by his wife Dr Sharmin Parveen, Associate Professor for the Department of Health Informatics at Bangladesh University of Health Sciences paid a courtesy call on the Midlands State University Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor V. N Muzvidziwa. Read more

Industries Shun Research, Innovation: Academics

In a presentation during a business luncheon on the role of STEM in Industrialisation and Modernisation held in Bulawayo, National University of Science and Technology lecturer, Engineer William Goriwondo, encouraged industry to utilise project recommendations from universities. Read more

MSU Host Emerald Publishing Workshop

Midlands State University’s Library Services Department hosted the prestigious Emerald Publishing workshop. The workshop was held courtesy of the department’s partnership with the global publishing company with the aim of providing guidance to various authors on how to get their works published. Read more

Nust Seeks Firms for Hostel Project

The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IBDZ) has invited construction companies interested in building student hostels and staff accommodation at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo to come up with their proposals for the project. Read more

President Appoints Varsity Councils

President Mugabe has appointed councils for nine State universities including the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo as well as the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) board. Read more

Private Sector Urged to Fund Research

The private sector has been challenged to fund research at institutions of higher learning to complement government efforts to transform the economy through science and technology. Read more

Sadc Commends Zim, Adopts STEM

SADC countries have adopted the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative which will see pupils undertaking it from Early Childhood Learning to tertiary level. Read more

Skills-Based Approach Yields Encouraging Results

When Mr Bridges heard IBM was hiring at a nearby operations center in 2013, he applied and demonstrated those skills. Now Mr Bridges, 25, is a computer security analyst, making $45 000 a year. In a struggling Appalachian economy, that is enough to provide him with his own apartment, a car, spending money — and career ambition. Read more

Talking With Turkey for Release of Jailed Students

The Zimbabwean government is seeking the release and extradition of three Zimbabwean students who are being held in prison in northern Cyprus for drug trafficking. Read more

The Legacy of African Universities

In the early 1940s, Makerere College was a centre of knowledge, with students coming from African countries as well as European countries. Makerere was known as the “Harvard of Africa”. Read more

University Gender Affirmative Action – Time for a Change

Despite the fact that women outnumber men at the University of Zimbabwe, there are few female engineering students. It may be time to rethink the institution’s gender affirmative action policy. Read more

Varsities Marry Scholarly Research with Business Acumen

There is no one-size-fits-all definition of the entrepreneurial university, but rather a plurality of approaches, inventive, creative and yet practical, that distinguishes the entrepreneurial style. Read more

 

15 June 2017

Govt Launches Fund for Women Scientists

The Government has joined other SADC countries in launching a $73 000 fund to support and encourage innovations by women in the bio-sciences sector. Read more

Hazards of Technology-Driven Education

All that glitters is not gold. This ageless adage should serve to warn both learners and educators as technology driven paperless education takes over from mountains of books, dust and chalk. Read more

President to Appoint Varsity Councils

President Mugabe in this month expected to appoint university councils for the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences, Manicaland University of Applied Sciences and Gwanda State University. Read more

US$75 Million Boost for University Accommodation

Infrastructure development financier, the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, or IDBZ, says it has begun work on the construction of student halls of residence at five of the country’s state universities under the first phase of its university students and staff accommodation project. Read more

 

15 May 2017

Academics Need Support Not Pressure

Academics are under increasing pressure to learn to teach well, better or differently than before. There are many reasons for this. Read more

Activists Ridicule Plan for Robert Mugabe University

Activists in Zimbabwe have ridiculed plans to build a Robert Mugabe University, adding that naming an educational institution after the veteran leader would be “palpably unfair and a monument of Zimbabwean injustice”. Read more

Bulawayo Book Fair Returns with A Bang

The Bulawayo Book Fair, one of ZIBF satellite book fairs which was held at the Large City Hall was but a celebration of its return after a two-year hiatus and Bookshelf had the privilege to witness this “bookish” comeback. Read more

Changing World Challenges Higher Education, Accreditation

The shifting terrain of higher education worldwide is challenging quality assurance and accreditation professionals to examine how they can adjust or transform traditional practices and policies, while also preserving core academic values. Read more

Desperate Students Look to Campus Politics for Solutions

Higher education students, tired of enduring high levels of economic stress and desperate for political change, are joining campus-based student unions in their numbers despite concerns around the strong alignment of such groups to national political parties. Read more

LSU Bars Students from Writing Exams over Fees

Lupane State University (LSU) is allegedly barring students who have not paid their fees from writing final examinations, in defiance of a Government directive. Read more

More Scrutiny Needed on Study Choices

With the changing times and shifts in technology, there is need to re-evaluate the importance of qualifications acquired in past years. Read more

Nyagura Challenges Higher Learning Institutions to Upgrade Programmes

University of Zimbabwe vice-chancellor, Levi Nyagura has challenged the country’s institutions of higher learning to regularly upgrade their programmes to keep tabs with latest international trends and produce graduates with relevant skills. Read more

RBZ Engages Banks over Students Loans

The Reserve Bank has begun engaging financial institutions willing to partner the apex bank for the financing of the tuition loan scheme for higher and tertiary education students. Read more

Setting Up of Robert Mugabe Varsity Begins

Government has begun the process of setting up the Robert Mugabe University with the University of Zimbabwe expected to play a part in its establishment. The specialised skills university will be built in honour of President Mugabe’s sterling contribution to the education sector. Read more

UZ to Spearhead Robert Mugabe University Establishment

The Government has begun the process of setting up the Robert Mugabe University with the University of Zimbabwe expected to play a part in its establishment. Read more

 

30 April 2017

Abusive Teachers, Lecturers to Lose Diplomas, Degrees

Lecturers in universities and colleges as well as teachers in public and private schools who are found guilty of abusing students risk having their degrees and diplomas cancelled by the Government to curb rampant abuse, especially of female learners. Read more

Educated Fools Causing World Turmoil

Alleged sexual abuse of female students by their charges at educational institutions in this country — with legal punitive measures against offenders now underway — marks a point of departure for this discourse. Read more

Lecturers Must be Allowed to Exercise Freedom

A local higher education delegation has toured top Indian medical facilities, one of them run by a university in a move that is expected to revolutionise the way local universities are run. Read more

New Bill Seeks to Turn Universities into Industrial Hubs

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved a new Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Bill that will, among other impacts, turn universities into industrial hubs and criminalise the issuing or receiving of degrees from unaccredited institutions, according to the country’s higher education minister. Read more

Zim Students in India Commend Govt Initiative

A group of Zimbabwean students on fellowship in India have commended a Government initiative for universities to incubate industry saying it is key in the transformation of the country’s medical tourism initiative. Read more

 

15 March 2017

Defense College Granted University Status

President Mugabe has issued a proclamation announcing that national defense college will be fully-fledged national university. Read more

Disentangling the Gordian knot with Professor Gundani

Renowned educationist, Professor Paul Gundani visited Midlands State University’s Zvishavane Campus on the 7th of March 2017, where he delivered a public lecture titled, “The ‘Just War’ tradition in Zimbabwe historiography: Disentangling the Gordian knot between religion and morality of war and warfare.” Read more

Gem from Great Zimbabwe University

Great Zimbabwe University has produced an album titled ‘Dangwe’ through its outfit. Read more

Reviving the Zimbabwean Economy through STEM

Since its launch in 2016, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative has been the topic of many discussions, as people seek to better understand this seemingly ‘new animal’, the brainchild of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development. Read more

Technology Deficit Hurts Zim

Zimbabwe has produced less than 2000 technologists since 1980, most of whom have left the country. Read more

US$2bn Bond to Plug Higher Education Facilities Deficit

Government last week Wednesday contracted CBZ Holdings, one of the country’s biggest financial institutions, to raise US$2 billion through bonds to fund infrastructure facilities at the country’s institutions of higher learning. Read more

Varsities Urged to Come Up with Home-Grown Solution

Universities in Africa have been challenged to come up with home-grown solutions to challenges faced by institutions of higher learning. Read more

ZNDU, Malaysia Varsity Sign Joint Academic MOU

The Zimbabwe National Defense University and University Utara Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening academic cooperation between the two institutions of higher learning. Read more

 

15 February 2017

Brain Drain Dilemma

Frankly, I don’t know whether to ululate and say am happy that our graduates and talented skills are finding home outside Zimbabwe because we are just sharp brains like that and they bring in funds through remittances. Read more

Higher Education Council Applauds MSU Infrastructure

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (Zimche) has commended Midlands State University (MSU) for putting up state-of-the-art infrastructure in its bid to improve the learning and teaching environment at the higher learning institution. Read more

Pro-Vice Chancellor Officially Commissions State-of-the-Art Equipment

In a landmark development that is set to enhance the teaching and learning of students in the Faculty of Mining Engineering and Mineral Processing, Midlands State University Pro-Vice Chancellor, Business Development and Administration, Professor has officially commissioned a consignment of state-of-the-art equipment, at the University’s Zvishavane Campus, for the Faculty’s Physical Metallurgy Laboratory. Read more

RBZ TO Give Students Loans

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has announced that students in higher and tertiary learning institution will in next six months start getting education loans to help parents and guardians who are struggling in paying fees. Read more

Varsity Degree to Be Minimum Qualification

Government is working on a policy and legislative reform that would see a university degree being the minimum qualification that could be attained by Zimbabweans who would have gone through tertiary education at one time. Read more

Zimbabwe Regime Mulls Demagogue Robert Mugabe University

Government is considering renaming a university after president Mugabe or have a new one in honour of his contribution to the education sector both in Zimbabwe and entire African continent. Read more

Zimdef Invest $9m in STEM

The Zimbabwe manpower development fund has invested more than $9 million for science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiative with more than 10000 students benefiting. Read more

ZOU Vice Chancellor Accorded State Assisted Funeral

The late vice chancellor of the Zimbabwe Open University has been accorded a state assisted funeral. Read more

 

31 January 2017

Chinese Billionaire Launches Education Prize

Chinese technology billionaire has created the world’s most valuable education prize. Read more

Exhibiting a Caring Touch

As part of efforts to enhance the welfare of staff and students, Midlands State University recently commissioned newly built houses at the institution’s Gwenoro farm for its farm employees and future interns. Read more

Government Embarks on Sanctions Impact Research

Government has embarked on a research to establish the economic impact of western-imposed economic sanctions on Zimbabwe with the results expected to be used for policy formulation. Read more

Student Interests Suffer as Unions Pursue Party Agendas

Student unionism in Zimbabwe has become synonymous with party politics, compromising the unions’ ability to represent students and causing a great number of tertiary students who want nothing to do with party politics to actually shun national unions. Read more

University Workers Fret over Salary Cuts

Universities are fretting over pay cuts following a proposal by treasury to slash the 2017 budget for the ministry of higher and tertiary education science and technology development by about 50%. Read more

 

15 November 2016

Bindura Varsity Students Cry Foul Over De-Registration

Hundreds of Bindura University of Science Education students yesterday approached the Higher and Tertiary Education ministry in Harare claiming the institution wanted to bar them from proceeding with their studies until they passed modules they had failed. Read more

Higher Education Minister and Deputy Accused of Fraud

Zimbabwean police arrested Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Jonathan Moyo and his deputy, Godfrey Gandawa, on Wednesday for allegedly misappropriating around US$450,000 from a manpower development fund that finances students, among other activities. Read more

Making the Curriculum Relevant to Societal Needs

Although no single definition may be said to be holistic in the explanation of complex phenomenon known as curriculum, it is simply referred to as a course of study. Read more

NUST Graduand Heckles Mugabe

A bold National University of Science and Technology (Nust) graduand yesterday cat-called at President Robert Mugabe during the institution’s graduation ceremony in Bulawayo. Read more

President Caps 2342 at NUST

President Mugabe capped 2342 graduates from various faculties at the National University of Science and Technology. Read more

Professor Moyo Arrest Suspended

Higher and tertiary education, science and technology development minister breathed a sigh of relief after the constitutional court suspended his arrest until a determination of his application challenging the constitutionality of the arrest. Read more

Start-Ups Hog Limelight at Education Summit

The 12^th International education summit participants are calling for the implementation of start-ups policies in tertiary institutions to encourage entrepreneurship among graduates. Read more

 

31 October 2016

Academic Handholding: A New Low

Scholars rue the modern way of learning which seems to be motivated by the need to get results quicker with minimum effort. Read more

President Caps 2078 at Great Zim

President Mugabe capped 2078 graduands at the 10^th Great Zimbabwe university graduation ceremony. Read more

Students in Arrears Must Write Exams

Tertiary institutions should not bar students from writing examinations on the grounds of failure to pay tuition fees. Read more

 

30 September 2016

Complement STEM Initiatives by Developing Infrastructure in Schools

The science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiative of paying fees can only be successful if complemented by requisite infrastructural development in schools. Read more

International Varsities for Educational Expo

Education is fundamental tool in the empowerment of the young generation. Read more

Moyo Threatens to Withdraw Mugabe Protest Student’s Degree

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo has threatened to withdraw the degree of student who demonstrated during the University of Zimbabwe graduation ceremony. Read more

Polytechnics Challenged to Initiate STEM Funding

Polytechnic colleges have been urged to come-up with their own science, technology engineering and mathematics funding mechanism to support government industrialisation initiative. Read more

Prof. Moyo Condemns Corrupt Officials

The minister of higher and tertiary education, science and technology development has castigated some authorities for corruptly securing places for their relatives who do not qualify to be enrolled at tertiary institutions. Read more

Robert Mugabe’s Wife to Build a University in His Name

Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe is planning to build Robert Mugabe University in honour of her husband, who is one of the world’s most educated presidents. Read more

Sanctions Impact Challenge for Researchers

The ministry of higher, tertiary education science and technology development is calling for proposals from researchers to carry out an in depth study on the impact of western imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. Read more

Teachers Colleges to Become Universities

Mkoba teachers college will be the main university campus with a special mandate on teacher education. Read more

 

15 September 2016

Cash-Strapped Government Plans Four New Universities

Zimbabwe has officially added two new universities to a bevy of existing ones as the cash-strapped government surges ahead with its policy to establish a university in each of the country’s 10 provinces. Read more

Job Creation Top Priority

The government is not afraid to engage on job creation as it remains on track towards fulfilling its promises of transforming the economy. Read more

Moyo Slams Philanthropist’s Honorary Degree

Higher and Tertiary education minister has slammed the willy-willy conferment of honorary degrees by philanthropic organisations. Read more

Quality Assurance Committee Set for Ministry of Higher Education

The ministry of higher and tertiary education, science and technology development has set up an advisory committee whose mandate is to provide consultancy on quality assurance to polytechnics. Read more

Varsities Challenged to Be Creative, Innovative

Tertiary institutions have an important role to play in improving the welfare of communities, national economic growth and social progress through creative thinking and technological innovations. Read more

Zimbabwe’s Graduates are Unlikely to Heed the Ban on Protests

Zimbabwe is on the throes of a popular revolt. Read more

 

31 August 2016

1,000 Maths, Science Teachers

There are 900 Mathematics teacher vacancies in schools and Government has intensified training of such tutors with 1 000 set to be recruited in the next two years. Read more

Jonathan Moyo Continue Law Studies

Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo is continuing with his law degree studies in honour of his late daughter Zanele. Read more

STEAM: The New Eye in Education

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is the current initiative of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development. Read more

UZ Develops Flood Prediction System

The University of Zimbabwe has established a satellite-based flood monitoring system to predict the occurrence of floods in the SADC region to help prevent unnecessary loss of life and property. Read more

ZNNP+ Urges Universities, Colleges to Set Up On-Site ARV Distribution Centres

The Zimbabwe National Network for People Living with HIV and Aids (ZNNP+) has urged State universities and polytechnic colleges to take a cue from Midlands State University (MSU) and set up their own on-site anti-retroviral drug (ARV) distribution centres to cater for HIV-positive students. Read more

 

31 July 2016

Angry Lecturers Boo Top Government Officials over Unpaid Bonus

The government is yet to pay last year bonus to state university staff. Read more

Are Students Graduating Without Reading Whole Book

Something ominous is happening at the country’s institutions of higher learning where students appear to be graduating without ever finishing a single book. Read more

Government Mulls Turning Colleges into Industrial Training Centres

The higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development ministry is considering the transformation of more colleges into industrial training centres. Read more

Polytechnic to Offer Degrees

Government has endorsed the transformation of polytechnic colleges into degree offering institutions. Read more

Transformation of Polytechnics Long over Due

For almost a century, polytechnic colleges have churned out 70000 graduates for occupations across the industry sector. Read more

ZAOGA Varsity’s Law School Gets Nod

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University this week got the green light to enrol law students after the Council for Legal Education found that the institution’s law school meets the required standards. Read more

 

15 July 2016

Choosing the Right Career

Today professionals swap job titles like kids trading snacks at lunch table, toggling between many companies and industries throughout the course of their career. Read more

Education Permanent Secretary Snubs Private College

Primary and secondary school permanent secretary refused to award the coveted Secretary’s bell award to private college in Bulawayo. Read more

Embrace Gender Equity, Training Centres Urged

Higher and tertiary education and science and technology minister has challenged industrial training institutions to embrace gender equity by enrolling more women. Read more

Lecturers Get 2015 Bonus

Lecturers and staff at grant–aided institutions will get their 2015 bonus while the rest of the civil service smile all the way to the bank. Read more

Reformed Church University Seeks To Build Campus

Masvingo based Reformed Church University is mobilising funds for the construction of the university campus being built about seven kilometres outside Masvingo along Bulawayo road. Read more

 

30 June 2016

Mat South Locals Demand Stake in Gwanda State University

Matabeleland South locals are complaining of being excluded from benefitting from the sole university in the province, Gwanda State University saying they were unaware of the institution’s intake dates and was already filled by “outsiders.” Read more

MP Calls On Mugabe to Resign As Universities’ Chancellor

Harare West MP has called on President Robert Mugabe to step down as chancellor of all state universities, arguing the workload was now too much for him given the increasing number of state universities in the country. Read more

Students, Varsity Workers Storm Chinamasa Office over Outstanding Salaries

The Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) has implored government to pay 9 000 staffers from the country’s 10 State universities their outstanding salaries and 2015 bonuses to allow the smooth running of the institutions. Read more

 

15 June 2016

Dumped Zimbabwe Students in Algeria Turns to Prostitute, Drug Dealing

Over 300 Zimbabwe students enrolled in various programs in Algeria under Zimbabwe-Algeria Bilateral scholarship program say some of them have now turned into prostitution and drug dealing in order to survive. Read more

Grace Barred Talks over Fake PhD

First lady Grace Mugabe silenced former higher and tertiary education minister from discussing her controversial doctorate in public. Read more

Graduate Vendors- A Clear Sign of Failed Govt Policies

Recent revelation that more than 2000 university graduates in Harare and Bulawayo have resorted to street vending as a means of survival are damning indication of government failure to manage economy. Read more

Mugabe Urged to Step Down as Chancellor of State Universities

Harare West MP Jessie Majome (MDC-T) has called on President Robert Mugabe to step down as chancellor of all State universities, arguing the workload was now too much for him given the increasing number of State universities in the country. Read more

Reprieve for Zim Students on Scholarships

Government has raised $1,2 million for Zimbabwean students on scholarships in Russia, Algeria and Egypt following reports that most of them were stranded and facing starvation due to lack of funding. Read more

UMAA Varsity Opens Doors to Public in January 2017

UMAA Zimbabwe University (UZU), a private university owned by UMAA Group of Colleges, will open its doors to the public next January, becoming the first institution of higher learning in Mashonaland East province. Read more

Woman Files Lawsuit to Challenge RBZ Governor Doctorate

A Harare woman has filed a lawsuit in which she is challenging Reserve Bank Governor to show that he is a holder of a genuine doctorate degree from a reputable institution. Read more

 

15 May 2016

Government to Build University of Fine Arts

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy minister, has disclosed that his ministry is set to build the country’s first ever university that will offer fine arts programmes in the resort town of Victoria Falls. Read more

 

30 April 2016

Minerals Varsity Takes Shape

Plans to establish the Pan-African Minerals University of Science and Technology (Pamust) have started in earnest with Government presenting the Bill in Parliament last week. Read more

No Quick Fix to Student Welfare Problems

Hard pressed students at the county’s cash trapped tertiary institutions will have to wait longer to receive the much-awaited government grant and better living conditions. Read more

Teachers Colleges to Offer Degrees

Teachers’ colleges could soon be offering degree programmes under new reforms being considered by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. Read more

We Want Beer on Campus

Students at University of Zimbabwe say they want access to beer on campus. Read more

 

15 April 2016

12000 Drop Out of University

At least 12000 students from the country’s various tertiary institutions have been forced to drop out of school or defer their studies in the face of the deteriorating economic and political climate. Read more

Parly Gives Nod to Manicaland State University

The National Assembly has approved the establishment of the Manicaland State University of Applied Science. Read more

UZ Ventures into Maize Milling

The university of Zimbabwe has ventured into maize milling that has seen it producing at least 30 tonnes of maize meal per month. Read more

 

1 April 2016

Guti Varsity Gets the Nod

The president has endorsed the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University saying only indigenous initiatives will fully unshackle people from the imbalances created by the country’s former colonialists. Read more

Ministry in Last Call for STEM Funding Hopefuls

The door nis closing on pupils who are yet to register for the Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics initiative as the government winds up the program. Read more

15 March 2016

Nyagura Defends UZ Enrolment

University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor has defended the institution’s decision to introduce a second intake per year. Read more

UZ Owed $11.4m in Unpaid Cadetship Fees

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor told Parliament that the institution of higher learning was owed $11.4 million in outstanding cadetship fees by government, the arrears date back to 2010. Read more

Vasity Faces Demotion

Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, a Binduri-based institution run by Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Church faces demotion after it emerged that it was built on someone’s gold claim. Read more

 

29 February 2016

20,000 Graduates to be Exported to South Sudan

An agreement has been signed that will see Zimbabwe sending nearly 20,000 graduates for employment in South Sudan. Read more

Defence University: Are Authorities Jumping The Gun?

If you want to be happy all the time, you have to keep changing yourself,” is a 2 500-year-old Chinese philosophical statement. Read more

Midlands State University Gets a Shot in the Arm

Being a stakeholder-driven institution, Midlands State University (MSU) continues to enjoy the support and generosity of its strategic partner Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ), which has partnered the institution in various ways enabling the University to maintain its position as a pace-setter among tertiary institutions. Read more

UZ Students to Cough Up $100 Parking Fees

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students who park personal vehicles at the campus will now be expected to cough up $100 in parking fees per semester for using the institution’s parking lot. Read more

Uz Launches Advanced Junior Faculty Research Training Programme

The University of Zimbabwe College Of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS) launched an exciting advanced junior faculty research training programme at a glittering ceremony. Read more

 

15 February 2016

Fort Hare @100: The Case for Thought Leadership

The university of Fort Hare’s centenary celebrationhave flared up deliberations on the state of higher education at the historic university and the sub-region. Read more

Government Explains Transformation of Defence College

Government has explained its decision to transform the national defence college into a fully-fledges Zimbabwe National Defence University. Read more

Varsity’s Law School Stopped

The Zimbabwe council for higher education has stopped Zimbabwe Ezeliel Guti University from enrolling law students.  Read more

Zim, South Sudan launch training exchange programme

Higher and Tertiary Education minister and his counterpart from South Sudan, signed a memorandum of agreement that will see the two countries co-operate in human capital development in universities and other tertiary institutions. Read more

 

January 2016

Be Wary of Fake Universities

Zimbabweans have been warned to be wary of external education institutions which are not registered with council for higher education in their own countries and offer certificates which are not recognised. Read more

Magunje Gets Land for Varsity

Mashonaland west province is set to have a second university following the allocation of 35 hectares of land to Magunje legislator. Read more

Masunda Rejects ‘Bogus’ Doctorate

Former Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda has rejected an offer to be conferred with a “Doctorate degree” by the little-known International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP), which has been doling out “post-graduate degrees” and other accolades to well-to-do people across the country. Read more

UZ Explains Two Intakes

The introduction of two intakes by the University of Zimbabwe will reduce the waiting period that students experience before they start lecturers. Read more

Zinasu Resists 2 UZ Intakes per Year

THE Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (Zinasu) yesterday expressed displeasure at the University of Zimbabwe’s (UZ)decision to introduce two intakes per year, saying this will only pile pressure on scarce facilities at the State university. Read more

 

December 2015

A Revolution Long Overdue in ZM

If universities remain mills of qualifications to get jobs, instead of capacitation to grow jobs, unemployment will remain a stubborn hurdle for Zimbabwe youths. Read more

Arts Education Severely Compromised

It is disheartening to conceive that the majority of Zimbabwe’s tertiary education graduates in the arts continues to fail to become hands-on practitioners whilst the expectation is that after years of high level of learning they become relevant to the sector both practically and intellectually. Read more

Fees Must Fall: Prof. Moyo Tells Private Universities to Reduce Tuition

The Ministry of higher and tertiary education science and technology development has castigated private universities for exorbitant tuition fees. Read more

Government Bonds to Fund Higher Education Development

Zimbabwe’s government has resolved to issue higher and tertiary education bonds for the development of infrastructure at public universities, polytechnics and colleges. Read more

Govt Calls Varsities to Order

Government’s new higher education thrust emphasising mathematics and science rather than social sciences is meant to feed into the bigger scheme of reducing government expenditure as demanded by international lending institutions. Read more

Moyo Assures Lecturers on Salaries

The government has assured staff at the country’s state universities that was working flat out to ensure they get their outstanding salaries. Read more

NUST Ordered to Revert to Teaching Science

The ministry of higher and tertiary education science and technology development has ordered National University of Science and Technology to revert to its mandate of teaching science subjects in line with its charter. Read more

Promiscuity Rife In Universities, Cases Of STIs High

AT least 35 % of college students are having sex with concurrent partners with over 20% of them infected by Sexually Transmitted Infections and failing to access treatment. Read more

University Of Zimbabwe to Lay Off 700 Workers

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has reportedly announced plans to lay off 700 out of its 1 300 non-academic staff complement, as the once prestigious academic institution battles to stay afloat. Read more

Varsities Rotten: Academics Failing to Make an Impact on Development Issues

The Minister of higher and tertiary education, science and technology development has said there is a lot of rot in higher and tertiary education institutions. Read more

Varsities to Be Audited on Mandate

The government will soon audit universities to their general mandate of generating new knowledge and intellectual property and patent, which will help to spur community and economic development. Read more

Zimbabweans Stampede for Ph.Ds

There is a stampede for honorary degrees, some dished out by dubious individuals and institutions. The insatiable appetite for degrees also saw Zimbabweans resorting to bogus online universities that dish the qualifications like confetti at a wedding. Read more

ZIMCHE Disowns Online Degrees

The Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (Zimche) says it does not recognise online qualifications and honorary degrees being dished out by institutions that are not universities. Read more

 

November 2015

Africa University Holds Key Stakeholders Meeting Africa University, held a key Stakeholders meeting which was well attended by representatives from government, media, non-governmental and banking organisations. Read more

503 Capped at Lupane State University President capped 503 Lupane State University students who graduated in different disciplines during the institution’s 6^th graduation ceremony. Read more

Back to School For Prof Moyo The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has gone back to school in honor of his daughter. Read more

Ecobank Donates To Africa University Ecobank donated 3 trophies, 56 medals and 30 T-Shirts to the Student Representative Council (SRC) towards the University’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Soccer Tournament. Read more

Half State Appointees on University Councils to Be Women Zimbabwe has come up with a law compelling the higher and tertiary education minister to ensure that at least half of ministerial appointees on all university councils are women, as required by the country’s Constitution. Read more

Minister Impressed By Developments at Marondera College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MCAST) The Honourable Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development was overwhelmingly impressed by developments at the Marondera College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MCAST), in particular, the sterling work by the University of Zimbabwe in incubating the institution. Read more

More Ministers Enroll for Law Degree More ministers enrolled to study law at university of Zimbabwe, it has emerged. Read more

MSU Partners Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic Midlands State University’s Faculty of Social Sciences has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Marondera based Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic College, in a development which will see the Polytechnic offering a diploma in Community Development, accredited with the country’s premier institution of higher learning. Read more

MSU Awarded International Gold Star In keeping with the institution’s vision to produce innovative, enterprising and internationally acclaimed graduates, Midlands State University (MSU) was recently awarded the International Gold Star for Quality in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more

NRZ Launches Technical College to offer Diplomas National Railway of Zimbabwe will start offering national diploma in technical and commercial courses in January. Read more

Shona-Chinese Dictionary to Be Launched This Month A Shona-Chinese dictionary produced by academics at the University of Zimbabwe and its Confucius Institute will be launched on 20 November in Harare. But the dictionary – the first in Africa – is already on the market. Read more

Skills gap Stifles growth of mining  The mining industry, one of Zimbabwe’s most critical sectors anticipated to drive growth in the short to medium terms, does not possess sufficient knowledge to propel the economy to the required levels. Read more

Staffer Suspended Over Mugabe Graduation Cap Storm A senior University of Zimbabwe official has been suspended for allegedly providing President Robert Mugabe with a small cap of knowledge during the recent graduation ceremony. Read more

Teaching Students about Africa May be One Way to Stem Xenophobia It is not secret that South Africa views itself as somehow outside the African continent. Read more

University Rewards Staff Human resources are the most priced resource for any institution. In any organization, at the core of the success of the few who lead, is the collective effort of the many who serve. Read more

UZ Graduates 3,451 Students The Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Professor L. M. Nyagura congratulated 3,451 students who graduated at a colourful 2015 University of Zimbabwe Graduation Ceremony. Read more.

 

 

September 2015

Academics Must Lead the Charge for Mother Tongue Learning Language was the most powerful instrument for preserving and developing a tangible heritage, while learning in a mother tongue boosted people’s abilities to succeed in their education. Read more

Critical Shortage of Engineers in Zim Zimbabwe is facing a critical shortage of engineers and development that can be addressed if mathematics and science subjects are taught from grade zero. Read more

Minister Snub Anglican Varsity Two ministers who were invited to grace the Anglican University in Zimbabwe ground-breaking ceremony in Marondera yesterday failed to turn up. Read more

No Maths, No Degree The government will soon make it mandatory for those wishing to enrolling at University and other institution of higher learning to have mathematics and science subjects at ordinary level. Read more