adminProf Kurasha as Goodwill Ambassador on May 9 in recognition of her commitment to expanding access to quality education and training through open and distance learning.
ACDE is a continental unifying body of African open and distance learning universities and the African Union’s lead implementing agency for distance education.
In her acceptance speech, Prof Kurasha said she was committed to open distance learning and to serving as a Goodwill Ambassador, especially in Zimbabwe to whoever needed to obtain tertiary education.
Prof Kurasha said “Like Lao Tzu said, ‘I have three precious things which I hold precious, gentleness; frugality; humility. These keep me from putting myself before others. Being gentle will make me bold; being frugal makes me liberal, and by being humble I avoid putting myself before others. I believe this makes me a leader to reckon with, among many.’ I accept the appointment with humility and will serve to my best ability in Zimbabwe and the continent at large.”
Prof Kurasha, who attained full pofessorship in April 2013, has developed ZOU from humble beginnings through her dedication to the highest level of management excellence, intelligent leadership and innovative culture in the deliverance of world class Open and Distance Learning in Zimbabwe.
In recognition of her sterling work, Prof Kurasha won the 1st Runner-up Manager of the year (Public Sector Category) Award in the Zimbabwe Institute of Management (ZIMA) 2013 Awards, in April 2013.
In addition, she also won the Africa Education Leadership award in December 2012 for her outstanding contribution in Education.
Through her leadership ZOU won the Award of Appreciation for ZOU’s outstanding contribution to the advancement of ODL and the development of the Open University of Tanzania in October last year. The university also won the International Star for Leadership in Quality Award in the Gold Category by an international body, the Business Initiative Direction (BID) based in Paris.
The Quality Crown was received in London on 24 November 2012.
ZOU is the first university in Zimbabwe to establish the Quality Assurance Directorate in 2007.
ZOU has been working on the ISO certification with Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) and the process is due for completion next month.
Online Reporter