adminTHE Principal of Mutare Polytechnic, Ms Poniso Watema, staff and students are inviting the Mutare community to come and witness the great strides that Mutare Polytechnic has made through the 2014 and 2015 academic year. The momentous occasion will see graduates being awarded with certificates and diplomas tomorrow (Saturday).
The venue of this important occasion is Mutare Polytechnic and the ceremony starts at 9am.
The 26th Main Graduation ceremony will be held under the theme: ‘Economic Empowerment and Growth through Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET-isation).
The theme was coined to embrace the national agenda for sustainable development of our nation.The institution is once again proud to churn out graduates who are well trained with hands on experience due to programmes which have an entrepreneurship development component.This makes a significant contribution to the nation by mitigating poverty through enhancement of employment creation
Mutare Polytechnic is one of the Government of Zimbabwe’s eight polytechnics administered by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development. It was established formerly as Umtali Technical Institute in 1948. At the time it was a satellite college for Salisbury Technical College (now Harare Polytechnic). At its inception, the institution was operating behind the present OK Supermarket. At that time, the then Umtali Technical Institute was offering rudimentary courses in Secretarial and Commercial studies. It also offered facilities for part-time and full time A-Level Business Studies as well as being a centre of Institute of Marketing Management (IMM) Parts 1, 2 and 3.
At independence, the Government initiated the establishment of the present campus in order to curtail the shortage of the much-needed technical skills and human resources. As part of the transformation of the institution, in 1984 it was upgraded to an independent technical institution under the auspices of the Ministry of Manpower Planning and Development. Construction of the present site began the same year. The first phase of the first engineering trainee artisans was recruited. From then, the institution never looked back, but grew tremendously.
Mutare Polytechnic today
At its commissioning, the institution had two functional divisions of Commerce and Engineering with a student enrolment of slightly over 200, but now the situation is different. Enrolmenthas been steadily increasing over the years. This year’s enrolment for the January and May intakes is 2081, including full time and part time.Since the turn of the millennium, more divisions have come on board.
The institution now hassixacademic divisions which offer a wide variety of courses.This means the college’s services and products have expanded horizontally through the introduction of many new vertically courses from national certificate through to B-Tech degree.The institution’s courses are offered on a full time, part time and block release basis.
Entry Qualifications are:
Enrolment for courses is in January and May every year.HEXCO examinations are written in November and March.Tuition fees are affordable so that more people get the opportunity of quality education training.A nation will develop when its people are equipped with the right educational skills.
·A minimum of 5 ‘O’ Level passes at Grade C and above including English, Mathematics in all courses and Science in Science-related courses e.g. Engineering and Horticulture.
Entry Requirements for B-Tech degree
National Certificate in Wood Technology or equivalent.
At least 5 ‘O’Levels including Maths and English.
Skilled worker class one certificate and at least one year post qualification-working experience.
Teaching and Learning
The institution continues to benefit from a sound leadership marshaled by a committed team from principal right down to the lowest officer. Ms Watema would like to salute his lieutenants for their commitment and vision.
For many years, Mutare Polytechnic has been leading all other polytechnics in terms of implementation of alternative financial strategies, curriculum and academic restructuring, emergence of a new management and accreditations.
As one of the best tertiary institution in the SADC region our work which takes a holistic approach to the implementation of the government’s national economic blueprint, ZIM-ASSET. We value the collaboration between industry and Mutare Polytechnic in skills development and empowerment for economic growth.
We are thriving to train job creators or not jobseekers as you all know that entrepreneurship is the panacea to Zimbabwe’s economic resuscitation. And the need for research and innovation is an important part of our curriculum. In this regard we are guided by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development thrust, which is to increase science technology development and innovation to 75 percent by 2018.
Our institution has made tremendous strides in exposing students to hands-on approach in training. Our students from the Civil and Construction Division are participating extensively in the construction projects at Chemhanza High School and Bonda.
The aforementioned projects will go a long way in imparting our students and lecturers with the relevant knowledge and skills necessary for them to start their own businesses. At the same time the institution is benefiting immensely from these production activities. As an institution, we take pride in our motto “The Pacesetter.” And of course we are pacesetters in whatever we do.
The institution has covered almost basic ground with regard to the process of acquiring ISO 9001:2008 Certification. This will see the institution implementing the quality management systems.
The library forged ahead with its E-briary (Electronic Library)whereby the students can access the full electronic textbooks rather than the conventional way.The library also has an integrated platform to access electronic databases, institutional repository and the online public access catalogue.
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