53 percent women graduands at CUT

Chinhoyi – THE introduction of Education 5.0 model has seen more women
empowering themselves academically.
The 19th Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) recent graduation ceremony themed
“Championing Human Capital Development for Innovation and Industrialisation Step by
Step” had a higher number of female graduates compared to males.
At least 1 847 out of 3484 – that is 53 percent of the graduates who were capped by the
university’s Chancellor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, last Friday were women
Traditionally, education was a preserve mainly for men and boys while for girls, the
messaging was that they had to be content with a place in the kitchen. However, the
tide is turning as more women are dominating, attaining university degrees.
CUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Simbi, in his speech stressed that the institution
is equipping graduates with skills and knowledge and will continue availing such
knowledge as it will solve the country’s challenges.
He observed that the greater number of graduates was of women as they continue to
stand out among men.
"FIFTY three percent of these graduation classes are women. The emergence and
introduction of Education 5.0 that came with the Second Republic has provided a
window to move away from an education designed for civil service.
“With this new and much wider lens to view education as a tool to cause active
economic development, based on Zimbabwe’s national endowment of plant/ mineral
resources, CUT has accepted the challenge through your guidance. The graduates
have been equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to fully represent Zimbabwe at
different platforms globally.
“To this extent, knowledge combined with competence in practical skills to produce
goods and services that provide for human needs becomes a central theme in our
conversation,” said Professor Simbi.
He also said that as the university they were set to commission a campus radio soon for
the institution and the community.

Ngogodo Taurai Samantha who graduated with Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in
Chemistry was awarded the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor's Award for
overall best graduating female student with a prize money of US$1000. Six graduates
who were awarded that degree were women only.
Nelisiwe Karara from Gokwe, received $500 under the Chancellor’s Award for a
doctorate in Business Sciences and Entrepreneurship, developed from scratch a solar
gadget that purifies water, especially for rural areas. She said that she wanted to help
empower other women and felt honoured with the award.
“By coming up first it’s a challenge to men, but for me it is an honour. I want to empower
my fellow women, especially the young girls. Women have been marginalised for a long
time so, this is the time to shine as women and with the help of our President, I think
this will take us far because he supports women empowerment as it is shown by the
award that I got,” said Karara.
The School of Wildlife and Environmental Sciences had 67 women out of a total of 129,
the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics had 19 women out of 34, the School of
Hospitality and Tourism had 164 women out of 221. The School of Health and Sciences
had 37 women out of a total of 63, School of Entrepreneurship and Business Sciences
had 1207 women out of a total 2234, while the School of Art and Design had 128
women out of a total of 186.