The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chancellor of the Midlands State University, His Excellency Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa capped 6977 graduates at a colourful ceremony held at the University’s Gweru Main Campus on Friday 12 July 2019.
Out of the graduating total, 3348 were female while 3629 were male. A total of 989 graduated with Masters degrees and 3 were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degrees, making it the largest graduation gathering in the history of Midlands State University. Among those who graduated were 100 international students drawn from Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Sudan and Mozambique.
Midlands State University, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Victor Muzvidziwa said, the institution had attained several milestones, despite an unfavourable operating environment. He highlighted that the University has 15 active international grant-funded researches, which include Future Leaders – African Independent Research (FLAIR), Global Challenges Research Fund UK, United Nations Development Programme, GMES & Africa Support and Transparency, Responsiveness, Accountability and Citizen Engagement (TRACE) among others.
‘Your Excellency and Chancellor, Dr Gift Mehlana’s work on a grant-funded project has led to his subsequent selection by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the International Younger Chemists Network to represent Californium on the Periodic Table of Young Chemists. This is a strong endorsement of the international impact of our research in applied science. Dr Gift Mehlana’s name will be etched on the periodic table of young chemists for the next 100 years,’ said Professor Muzvidziwa.
The University also seeks to excel in quality research, innovations and technology transfer, an area which has started to grow and has seen the University getting 18 intellectual property disclosures. So far, 1 patent has been registered, while 4 utility models have been filed with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). Additionally, 3 copyrights have also been filed with the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Organisation (ZIPO).
Meanwhile, Internationalization efforts have also witnessed the operationalization of a Memorandum of Understanding between Midlands State University and the University of Tel Aviv in Israel. The MOU has produced two Master of Science graduates in Molecular Biology and Plant Sciences. One of the two graduates has since returned to the University of Tel Aviv to pursue PhD studies in the same area of specialization.
The historic 19th graduation ceremony, which was the first of the two ceremonies to be held this year, was attended by various guests among them, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in the Midlands Province, Honourable Larry Mavima, MSU Chairman of Council, Engineer Caleb Makwiranzou, members of the University Council and Senate, cabinet ministers, traditional leaders, captains of industry, parents and guardians as well as members of the University Community.
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