Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is expected to cap 2 504 graduands at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust)’s 31st graduation ceremony in Bulawayo today.
This year’s graduation ceremony will be held under the theme: “Think Beyond Limits Ignite Innovation, Power Industrialisation”, which emphasises the thrust to empower university students to develop innovations that drive Zimbabwe’s Industrialisation.
In an interview yesterday, Nust director of communication and marketing Mr Thabani Mpofu said 46 percent of the graduands were females.
“One of the major highlights of this year’s graduation is that we have 28 international students graduating from various faculties,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said the focus on innovative educational framework was a significant policy shift under the Second Republic as it incorporates cultural heritage while integrating modern educational practices.
The result is a well-rounded learning experience for students, which will have a higher impact on the country’s development trajectory and beyond. Hundreds of people, including the graduands’ family members and friends are expected to attend today’s ceremony.
Last year, a total of 3 201 graduated with various degrees from the institution with a seven percent increase in the number of graduates compared to the previous year.
Nust has also experienced an increase in the number of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates, rising from 58 percent last year to 59 percent this year.
In his report last year, Nust Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mqhele Dlodlo, said the institution’s continued efforts in harnessing a new type of human capital are critical to the fulfilment of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy.
He said that Nust had fully embraced Heritage-Based Education 5.0 and the students are being equipped and trained to provide the essential knowledge and skills needed for the production of quality goods and services for the modernisation and industrialisation of the nation.
Prof Dlodlo said as a STEM-oriented institution, the high percentage of female STEM graduates is encouraging as it means more female engineers, scientists, IT experts, and architecture and construction experts, among other male-dominated fields.
He said this buttresses the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which recognises the role of research and innovation in driving industrialisation through the creation of new industries, technologies, services and products.
Prof Dlodlo said the institution had responded to President Mnangagwa’s call for universities to drive social and economic development through life-changing innovations.
Through the Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC), which is the country’s centre of excellence in DNA testing, Nust was the second runner-up in the Grand Presidential Innovation Award of the Year 2024.
The university’s AGTC has expanded its services from human DNA profiling and paternity testing to animal DNA testing, GMO identification, thereby solving cases of stock theft, murder and sexual assault, and HIV viral load testing.
