News / Education
Mugabe caps 781 at university graduands
06 Oct 2013 at 04:36hrs | Views
President Mugabe yesterday capped 781 graduands at the 12th Bindura University of Science Education graduation ceremony held at the higher learning institution's new Faculty of Science site.
The ceremony coincided with the installation of Professor Eddie Mwenje as the substantive Vice-Chancellor. Prof Mwenje had served in an acting capacity since 2010.
The graduands were drawn from the faculties of Commerce, Science, Agriculture and Environment as well as Science Education.
Among those capped were 215 diploma holders, 492 first degree aspirants and 74 master's degree graduates, marking an 11 percent jump from last year's total number of graduates.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Mwenje said the institution intends to establish a centre of excellence that focuses on developing skills and competencies in science and mathematics.
The initiative will mainly target local educators.
"The global economy is steadily increasing the demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics," he said.
"Students who are well grounded by the school, college and university system and well-motivated in these fields are an increasingly sought-after resource.
"One of the major outcomes of our first international science and mathematics education conference was a proposal for the establishment of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics education centre here at Bindura University.
"It is called a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centre. The role of the centre will be to prepare teachers and students to gain skills in the four disciplines. With enough support, Bindura University is ready to ensure that such a centre thrives for the benefit of the nation."
Prof Mwenje also said the recruitment of Cuban science professors to assist in developing the university's national sports academy was complete.
He said the institution has acquired new property, which will act as a town centre campus with a capacity of over 800 users, in an effort to decongest the existing facilities.
He, however, expressed concern over the shortage of student accommodation which, he said, had a negative impact on service delivery.
"The need for student accommodation cannot be over-emphasised. Presently, we have accommodation for 400 students only. This is against an enrolment of over 5 000 students who all need accommodation on campus.
"Bindura has a limited number of houses and students find it difficult to secure decent accommodation in the neighbourhood of the university. These problems, Your Excellency and Chancellor, make the students, especially the girl child, vulnerable to the vices of society.
"The completion of student hostels will go a long way in easing the students' plight."
The university has witnessed a massive rise in the number of PhD-holding staff over the last two years.
It is home to 26 PhD holders and 10 professors.
The ceremony coincided with the installation of Professor Eddie Mwenje as the substantive Vice-Chancellor. Prof Mwenje had served in an acting capacity since 2010.
The graduands were drawn from the faculties of Commerce, Science, Agriculture and Environment as well as Science Education.
Among those capped were 215 diploma holders, 492 first degree aspirants and 74 master's degree graduates, marking an 11 percent jump from last year's total number of graduates.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Mwenje said the institution intends to establish a centre of excellence that focuses on developing skills and competencies in science and mathematics.
The initiative will mainly target local educators.
"The global economy is steadily increasing the demand for science, technology, engineering and mathematics," he said.
"Students who are well grounded by the school, college and university system and well-motivated in these fields are an increasingly sought-after resource.
"One of the major outcomes of our first international science and mathematics education conference was a proposal for the establishment of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics education centre here at Bindura University.
Prof Mwenje also said the recruitment of Cuban science professors to assist in developing the university's national sports academy was complete.
He said the institution has acquired new property, which will act as a town centre campus with a capacity of over 800 users, in an effort to decongest the existing facilities.
He, however, expressed concern over the shortage of student accommodation which, he said, had a negative impact on service delivery.
"The need for student accommodation cannot be over-emphasised. Presently, we have accommodation for 400 students only. This is against an enrolment of over 5 000 students who all need accommodation on campus.
"Bindura has a limited number of houses and students find it difficult to secure decent accommodation in the neighbourhood of the university. These problems, Your Excellency and Chancellor, make the students, especially the girl child, vulnerable to the vices of society.
"The completion of student hostels will go a long way in easing the students' plight."
The university has witnessed a massive rise in the number of PhD-holding staff over the last two years.
It is home to 26 PhD holders and 10 professors.
Source - sundaymail
