President confers degrees on 3 149 MSU graduands

Gweru (The Times-New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday conferred degrees to 3 149 graduands at Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru.

A total of 100 international students from Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, South Sudan and Eswathini also graduated.

MSU vice chancellor, Prof Victor Muzvidziwa said the gender composition of the graduands was almost at par with 1 568 women and 1 581 men.

He also presented the pioneering Mining and Metallurgical pioneering class.

Prof. Muzvidziwa said the university had responded to the country’s skills audit of 2018 which revealed critical skills deficits in engineering and technology, natural and applied sciences, agriculture, medical and health sciences by curriculum renewal.

“The university has since rebranded and expanded the mandate of its mining and mineral processing engineering faculty to become the faculty of engineering and geology sciences, now offering a wide range of disciplines in engineering including energy and fuel sciences,” he said.

Prof Muzvidziwa said the disciplines resonate well with the country’s vision 2030 agenda of achieving upper middle income status by 2030.

He said the fourth industrial revolution compels the university to shape and re-imagine the future.

“We take pride that MSSu has made digital fluency, innovation and entrepreneurship priorities,” he said.

“The future belongs to those who innovate, who can leverage on block chain technology, data science and artificial intelligence, and those with the soft skills of creativity, critical thinking and leadership.

“Our disciplines in the humanities and social sciences have also embraced digital technologies, especially with social media and the new trends in communication as well as augmented reality in the performing arts,” Prof. Muzvidziwa said.

He applauded the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development and ZIMDEF for availing $1,5 million for the purchase of equipment for the incubation hub laboratory.
The Times-New Ziana