The Sunday News
The vision of the National University of Science and Technology is: “To be a world-class centre of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurship for sustainable development.” As a science university, the words that stand out are research and innovation, which will ensure entrepreneurship to develop the country and the world at large.
Sometime last year, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo, directed the university to go back to its mandate as a pro- science institution, and we note that the minister did not only stop there, he went further to make sure the institution is capacitated through funds availed by the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund. Zimdef recently released
$100 000 to the university after its plea to the minister, with $75 000 going to the Applied Genetics Testing Centre and
$25 000 going to the Journalism and Media Studies department.
And last week, the university announced that its Applied Genetics Testing Centre will soon start HIV viral load testing, the first of its kind in the country for any learning institution. The chairperson of the Centre, Mr Zephania Dhlamini, said viral load testing was a major breakthrough for the institution. Furthermore, it will help people living with HIV and on medication to monitor their responsiveness to treatment. In the long run, the university will play a big part in the health sector in the country and will also expose students to a wider spectrum in the sector through research and other initiatives.
By and large, by so doing, the university is slowly but surely taking its rightful place as a science institution. We agree with the minister that it is unfair for institutions of higher learning to gobble tax payers’ money while failing to fulfil their mandate.
“As we engage, it may very well be that going forward support by Government for higher and tertiary education institutions will depend on improved criteria which will include whether or not you’re meeting your mandate. Because really, it’s unfair to the general public with expectations of our institutions and that general public being the tax payers to keep allocating funds that aren’t tied to any outcomes but are simply tied to institutions,” Professor Moyo was quoted as saying back then.
Prof Moyo made the remarks after being told that Nust had diverted from its core business of enrolling Mathematics and Science students. The minister was informed that only 49 percent of Nust students were studying Sciences while 51 percent were majoring in Commercials and Social Sciences. Prof Moyo said Nust must revert to its core business.
He said he would be happy if 70 percent of the students enrolled at the institution do Sciences. The minister said higher learning institutions should be results oriented.
“We need to have as a conversation some serious discussions on funding methods or formula that takes into account results.
After all everyone is talking about results, that’s the essence of the major policy thrust we have right now under Zim-Asset,” he said.
