The Midlands State University’s Development Studies department put on a sterling performance at the 2017 Development Practitioners Network Convention, held from the 12th to the 13th of October 2017 at Conquenar House in Harare.
Competing in the two-day University Students Debate competition, which was held as part of the Convention, the MSU team comprising development studies students: Alfred Majani level 4:2, Angela Madamombe level 4:2, Vimbai Chanyuka level 4:1 and Elvis Munyoka level 4:1, demonstrated a keen knowledge and mastery of developmental issues winning an award and certificate ahead of Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU), Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and Catholic University of Zimbabwe to emerge as the 2017 champions.
The grand final motion read, ‘are universities equipping graduates with the necessary skills for the job market or have some degrees lost relevance in the current economy’, and team MSU was affirming.
In the same vein and in keeping with the University’s winning ways, Alfred Majani was judged the best speaker of the debate competitions.
The debate was a platform for students studying development and social sciences to impart and share their diverse ideas and perspectives on topical and contemporary development issues. Thereby enhancing and invoking critical thinking among university students as well as allowing for participation in development processes.
The Development Practitioners Network Convention which ran under the theme; ‘Development Reality: Collectively Envisioning the Future’ was attended by civil society organisations, NGOs, corporates, Government ministries and departments, parastatals, tertiary institutions, embassies, funding agencies and DPN members among others
On behalf of the entire University community, we wish to congratulate the team for receiving distinction and flying the University Flag high.