the herald
Office of Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West
Rising enrollment at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) necessitates an urgent increase in university housing for students and staff, with limits on the number of private accommodations city residents can provide.
Speaking yesterday at the institution’s 18th graduation ceremony where President Mnangagwa awarded more than 2,800 students with certificates, diplomas and degrees, CUT Vice Chancellor, Professor David Simbi, said the university now had 11,899 students.
“The increase in listings has put pressure on housing,” he said.
“Despite help from our line ministry to attract public-private partnerships, the model is proving difficult with many financiers asking for title deeds.
“Although the community has helped provide private accommodations, most of them require US dollars.”
Professor Simbi said more accommodation at the university will attract more lectures and students.
Most students rent from landlords in the suburbs of Coldstream, Katanda, Hunyani Mzari and Orange Grove, where they pay a minimum of $50 each for a room they share with two or three.
Of the 2,804 graduates yesterday, 1,379 were women, or 49%.
A total of 1,126 women graduated with an undergraduate degree, accounting for 54% of the 2,073, and nine women graduated with a master’s degree in philosophy, accounting for 57% of the total number.
Although yesterday’s event was physically attended by thousands of people who were tested for Covid-19, with the majority enjoying the natural fresh air as wearing face masks was not compulsory, the pain of losing colleagues and support staff has remained at the heart of the zeal of university scientists. to contribute to a community without Covid-19.
“While Covid-19 was a major setback, that hasn’t stopped the university from dreaming big,” Prof Simbi said. “As a university, we have lost colleagues and support staff. It is in their honor that the university, through its scientists in the Schools of Agriculture and Health Science Technology, continues to undertake research and development for the cure of Covid-19.
Professor Simbi said the university continues to strive for excellence, amid revelations of the successful contribution of the innovation hub and agro-industrial park under the Education 5.0 model to the country’s livestock.
He commended the government for releasing funds that greatly contribute to the development of higher education institutions.
The university, which has 11,899 students of which 52% are men, was facing a mass exodus of professors as the West devised aggressive and ruthless ways to continue to exploit developing countries.
Under the theme: “Education 5.0 Creating Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Industrial Growth”, the graduate students pledged to work for the development of the country towards Vision 2030.
Overall, the top graduate student in chemistry, Christine Mupindu, and the second-best graduate student in information and communication technology, Field Marshal Aston Gorejena, who both received Chancellor’s Awards and came away richer $1,000 each, said they would implement what they had learned for the better. from the country.
“I hope to open my own lab or start a business that will create jobs for other young people,” Mupindu said.