Gweru, Main Campus – Focused on equipping universities with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement quality while navigating the changing higher education landscape of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University’s Quality Assurance and Professional Development (QAPD) unit is currently hosting a National Multiplication Trainings (NMT) workshop set to run from the 25th to the 27th of March 2024.
Sponsored by the Germany Academic Exchange Program and attended by professionals from various universities; the workshop has lined up quality assurance experts from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana as trainers.
In his welcome remarks, MSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa highlighted that quality assurance is a key component of the education and training process.
“We are all aware that quality assurance improves the quality of academic programmes, enhances the reputation of our institutions and increases client satisfaction,” remarked Professor Muzvidziwa.
He further said that quality assurance takes various forms that include programme evaluation, assessment of students, continuous professional development for faculty and other staff within institutions.
Unpacking the theme – “Enhancing quality assurance skills of departmental chairpersons,” the Executive Director – QAPD, Professor Alois Solomon Chiromo noted that the workshop was aimed at enhancing the skillset of quality assurance professionals in Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning.
Professor Chiromo made a clarion call for a shift towards continuous improvement and evidence-based quality assurance.
Delivering the keynote address, Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, CEO, Professor Kuzvinetsa Peter Dzvimbo highlighted the need to continually engage in a process of restrategising, reinventing and reconstructing the education system.
‘‘We vow to continue to evaluate our degree programmes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, to ensure that the quality of these degree programmes that we offer will continue to be very high and will continue to be the envy of the region and continent,’’ said Professor Dzvimbo.
Professor Dzvimbo castigated mushrooming institutions churning out honourary degrees without approval from ZIMCHE.
The event also involved knowledge exchange-focused group discussions led by the training committee.
By providing a forum for the exchange of best practices and the sharing of knowledge, the University demonstrated its dedication to continuous improvement and evidence-based quality assurance.
Was this post helpful?
Let us know if you liked the post. That’s the only way we can improve.