The Sunday News
Faith Phiri Sunday News Reporter
LUPANE State University (LSU) will this year have two intakes for first year students, as it moves to accommodate the growing number of students interested in enrolling at the institution. In a statement, LSU said it will this year have two intakes in February and July respectively. “Lupane State University would like to inform prospective first year students and the public that the institution will enrol two intakes of first year students in 2016. The first intake will begin lectures on 15 February 2016 while the second intake will commence studies in July 2016.”
The university advised aspiring students to apply for admission at LSU as soon as possible indicating their preferred intake. Application forms can either be downloaded on the university website or collected physically at the Admissions and Students Records Office. The University of Zimbabwe will also have two intakes this year. The first intake starts lectures on 22 February 2016 while the second intake commences studies on 22 August 2016.
LSU public relations officer Mr Zwelithini Dhlamini said the university did not copy any university as it placed advertisements late last year indicating to those interested in enrolling at the university that there would be two intakes.
“The management in place was appointed last year and it thinks the university takes too long to respond to applicants such that they end up enrolling at other universities locally and internationally. We decided to give them the opportunity to enrol as soon as February to avoid making them wait unnecessarily longer. Those not ready by February can then enrol in July,” said Mr Dhlamini.
LSU started its operations in August 2005 with a pioneer group of 12 students enrolled to pursue a General Degree in Agricultural Sciences. The university has three faculties and has had five successful graduation ceremonies.
Although the university has its current operations based in Bulawayo, its designated site is in Lupane in Matabeleland North Province where construction of the campus has been ongoing since 2006.
Mr Dhlamini said construction of the campus site in Lupane had been delayed with contractors still to finish structures which were due for completion last year. Mr Dhlamini said work on the site was likely to be done end of March or early April although they have to reschedule relocation plans as other classes have already started.
Mr Dhlamini said they hope the July intake will see students starting their lectures at the LSU campus site in Lupane.
