Recently appointed Midlands State University Council members attended an induction workshop that was presided over by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira.
The workshop whose main objective was to introduce and familiarise the new councillors with higher education management and outline their roles and responsibilities in keeping with the management of public institutions was held from the 9th to the 10th of June 2021 at The Village Lodge in Gweru.
In his opening remarks, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira welcomed the new councillors and highlighted the importance of the workshop in equipping them with the requisite knowledge and insight required for them to effectively execute their duties during their tenure.
In his address to the councillors, Minister Murwira impressed upon them the need to ensure that the University continues to fulfil its mandate of knowledge creation and transfer, in addition to offering innovative solutions that have industrial application in line with Education 5.0. He also emphasised the need for industrial research that is geared towards not only enhancing Zimbabwe’s industry but research that also leads to the production of goods and services, and ultimately economic growth as enshrined in the national Vision 2030.
As part of the induction process, Councillors were educated on the role of leadership in fostering and ensuring accountability, fairness and transparency in the use and management of resources. The Councillors were also introduced to the University’s organisational culture and educated on corporate social responsibility and ethics with particular emphasis on upholding the values of integrity, honesty and professionalism as encapsulated in the University’s mission statement.
Among those who attended the induction workshop were the MSU Chairperson of Council, Mrs V Hungwe, MSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Victor N. Muzvidziwa, Gwanda State University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo, MHTEISTD, Chief Director of Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Dr Engineer Willie Ganda, MSU Pro Vice-Chancellor, Business, Innovation and Enterprise Development, Professor Grace Mugumbate, MSU Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Academic Affairs, Professor Alois S. Chiromo, the Registrar, Mr T Zishiri and the Acting Bursar, Mr D Zvidzayi.