adminWE welcome the gazetting of the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences Bill – which is widely expected to lead to the actualisation of a State varsity in Manicaland.Manicaland had become an educationally isolated region, and the latest development should be applauded by all and sundry.
The varsity will nurture scholars in the field of applied sciences, mineral sciences, forestry sciences, agricultural sciences, tourism and hospitality.
These are the sectors that characterise Manicaland.
They will go a long way improving the skills and knowledge of farmers, thereby giving a positive image to the agrarian reform.
The varsity will have premises in Makoni, Mutare and Chipinge , and has been on the cards, but took longer than anticipated owing to haggling among politicians.
The differences had some regional undertones – with those from the eastern part of the province pushing for Mutare while those from the western part of Manicaland pushing for its establishment in Rusape.
Of late there has been little progress since the Midlands State University (MSU) led by its Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwebi Bhebhe – visited the province in 2012 and started baby-sitting the Manicaland State University in 2013.
Now that the gazetting has set the ball rolling, we expect all legislators from the province to take wisdom and sing from the Manyika hymn book and lead the cause when the Bill is eventually tabled in Parliament.
We take unprecedented excitement in this positive development because Manicaland was one of the two provinces without such a State tertiary facility.
This was despite the fact that the province had some of the best and high flying results producing A-level schools. It is also common knowledge that benefits of having university education in our province are manifold – ranging from financial to the development of a sustainable economy and issues of rurality.
Universities have three main roles, namely, education, research, and community service.
It plays an assistive role in developing community potential in order to achieve desired societal goals. In most cases, varsity research contributes to societal welfare and to developing community potential.
It is our considered view that the coming to fruition of the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, will to some extent serve as an economic “anchor” in its respective regions.
The varsity will certainly create jobs and offer training and education for local residents; support local businesses through the procurement of goods and services; advance community development through real estate projects and facilitate community service projects that have an economic component and partner with government and civic groups to strengthen the economy of Manicaland.
The varsity will also serve as a workforce developer. It will be the role of university to design and implement workforce training programmes with local businesses. If combined with the “employer” role described above, it can provide a more comprehensive package on how to effectively hire and train local residents.
The varsity will also serve as a technological and innovation incubator for Manicaland as the province set to exploit the varsity’s research capacity to develop local knowledge-based economies surpassing agriculture and other various industries.
The other advantage is that the varsity can serve as an advisor and network builder – a role in which it will come up with business advisory programmes, consulting services and networking opportunities to local businesses.
The varsity’s establishment will certainly beautify Manicaland.
Online Reporter