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Cletus Mushanawani Mash Central Bureau
Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) last year trained 5 000 farmers in water-harvesting technologies, as part of its efforts in improving lives of people in surrounding communities.

Speaking during a tour of the university by Mozambican Ambassador to Zimbabwe Pedro Joao de’Azevedo Divane last Friday, director of Research and Post Graduate Centre, Professor Courtie Mahamadi, who was standing in for Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eddie Mwenje, said BUSE had initiated a number of community engagements aimed at improving livelihoods and living conditions for its communities.

“Last year, we trained 5 000 farmers in water-harvesting technologies in drought-prone areas in order to improve their farming,” he said. “We also trained the farming communities in bee-keeping projects. We aim to introduce queen bee breeding to accelerate honey production.”

The university has been developing websites for schools in remote areas of Mashonaland Central over the past few years, as well as providing laboratories for practical examinations to schools in and around Bindura.

“We provide socio-psycho support to orphans at Ran Mine Primary School,” said Prof Mahamadi. “We have also been holding fire awareness campaigns around the country to raise awareness on the dangers of starting fires.

“As a science education university, the institution is committed itself to fully support the Government’s initiative of promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the education sector.

“As a way of attracting and encouraging students to pursue degrees in STEM disciplines for socio-economic development, the university has for the past three years (been) hosting the Annual National STEM Subjects Olympiads.

“For the past two years, it has been hosting the STEM Dialogue in partnership with Higher Life Foundation.”

Last year, BUSE, in partnership with Higher Life Foundation embarked on the training of teachers in ICT skills, achieving an initial target of 10 000 trained teachers in the first phase of the programme.

It is also targeting to introduce a Bachelor of Science Degree in Optometry in partnership with Dr Solomon Guramatunhu.

In 2012, the university launched the Staff Development Fund to assist lecturers, who hold masters’ degrees to acquire PhD qualifications from reputable universities locally and abroad through sandwich or split-site programmes.

Prof Mahamadi said 32 serving lecturers had successfully completed their PhDs through the Staff Development Fund, while another 64 were at different stages of their studies.

“In the recruitment of new academic staff, the university is now giving preference to candidates with PhDs,” he said.

“A considerable number of lecturers with PhD qualifications have resultantly been recruited.

“The number of PhD holders has, therefore, risen from three in 2011 to 76. New lecturers with master’s degrees are now given temporary appointments pending their acquisition of a PhD qualification.

“The university also has a running Government supported technical cooperation programme with the Republic of Cuba that began operating in 2012.

“Under the programme, up to 12 senior Cuban academics are lecturing at Bindura University at any one time. This has helped in covering up deficiencies in critical areas. The institution is satisfied with its strategies on staff development and is on course to achieve its strategic goal of having 55 percent of its academic staff being PhD holders by 2018.”