The department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering is located in the University’s Zvishavane campus at the southern end of the Great Dyke. Established in 2016, it is one of the founding departments of the Faculty of Engineering and Geosciences, together with the Department of Mining Engineering.
The department was set up to develop programmes that promote education and research in value addition of the mineral resources found in Zimbabwe, through mineral beneficiation, mineral extraction and manufacturing. There are two programmes offered by the department to fulfil this mandate: Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Engineering.
It is the department’s vision to be recognised as the leading academic and research department for the fields of metallurgical and materials engineering in Zimbabwe and to produce graduates that are highly sought after by the industry.
Metallurgical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering is the study of metals; the extraction and concentration of minerals and subsequent processing
to convert the minerals into useful everyday items. It also involves the response of metallic products to stress
and the environment. Metallurgical Engineering is a subspecialty of Materials Engineering.
Materials Engineering
Materials Engineering is the study of
materials; how their chemistry,
microstructure, synthesis and processing
influences their properties and
performance. It also involves studying how
materials respond to stress and
environmental changes and how materials
may be manipulated to meet society’s
ever changing needs. Materials covered
include metals, ceramics, polymers and
composites.