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the Great Zimbabwe University during a colourful ceremony witnessed by thousands of people. The graduates where drawn from five faculties namely Arts, Commerce, Education, Social Science and Science.
The graduation ceremony was the sixth since the university opened.
President Mugabe had earlier officially installed Professor Rungano Jonas Zvobgo as the second Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor.
The President also capped the first group of 46 graduates who completed Master of Commerce studies at the institution.
Out of the 46 Master of Commerce students, 24 were in the field of accounting, seven in finance, four in industrial strategy and 11 in marketing management.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Zvobgo said the graduation of 980 students at Great Zimbabwe University brought to nearly 6 000 graduates from the university.
The inaugural graduation ceremony was in 2005. Prof Zvobgo said enrolment at his institution continued to rise over the years to 4 417 students.
He saidGreat Zimbabwe University was on the verge of attaining gender parity in terms of enrolment.
The student population stands at 53,2 percent males and 46,8 percent females.
“The current buzzword here at the Great Zimbabwe University is re-engineering as we seek to sensitise and energise everyone from department level right up to council about the value and relevance of the niche area to our national goals and to the development of our country,” said Prof Zvobgo.
“It is our intention to increase the speed with which the re-engineering process will take place. We need to immediately re-craft the programmes themselves, the learning and teaching strategies and indeed the entire focus of our curriculum.”
He added: “The idea is to ensure that culture and heritage becomes our flagship as we teach and pursue all other programmes which go towards making a comprehensive world class university.” Prof Zvobgo said shortage of qualified staff remained a major impediment to operations at Great Zimbabwe University, noting that there was need for funding to embark on an aggressive staff development programme at the institution.
He called on Government to help the university to increase its capacity to attract and recruit more qualified staff, especially Professors and Associate Professors. Prof Zvobgo said the university managed to retain all its PhD staff holders despite the competitive labour environment.
He said the recent successful hosting of the Southern African Society for Education annual conference by the university was an indication of ongoing efforts to add value to its name.
Prof Zvobgo said it also provided a forum for debate on issues that have a bearing on the southern African region and beyond.
The annual SASE conference brings together members of the academia from various countries in Southern Africa where they brainstorm about various issues and topics.
Prof Zvobgo said the university would make inroads in promoting the celebration of Zimbabwe’s culture and heritage.
Among those who graced yesterday graduation ceremony was the acting Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Ignatius Chombo, secretary Dr Washington Mbizvo and members of the academia.
Online Reporter