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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
GOVERNMENT has managed to get assurances of $2 billion worth of investment for the construction of a state-of-the-art campus at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS).
In an interview with The Herald, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the Government was negotiating agreements with the investors.
He said once the agreements were in place, the funds would be used to build infrastructure at the university’s two campuses in Mutare and Headlands.
“We crafted a master plan for the university and we have completed it, so we are now looking for investors interested in funding this ambitious project,” said Prof Murwira.
“We have been knocking on doors and I am glad to say so far we have signed close to $2 billion from potential investors.
“We are working on the agreements and then we will move forward with implementing the master plan we came up with.”
Prof Murwira said the project was part of efforts to create what is termed: “University 5.0.”
He said in the past, universities just used to teach students, but Government now wanted to create establishments that offered more to students.
“Our new philosophy is that universities must have five functions, which are teach, research, consult, innovate and industrialise,” said Prof Murwira.
“We should be able to offer all these to our students to produce well-rounded students who can adapt easily in the work environment.
“We, therefore, designed the campus at MSUAS to comply with this vision. For any project to succeed, we need to conceptualise first, then come up with a master plan, negotiate agreements and then implement.
“We are looking forward to the implementation of this grand vision we came up with to change the learning environment for our students.”
Prof Murwira said the grand plan was to create a university city with state-of-the-art hostels for students, office blocks and shopping malls.
Online Reporter