The Sunday Mail
Religion Correspondent
THE Catholic University of Zimbabwe held its 13th Graduation ceremony where 163 students were awarded with undergraduate degrees and certificates in various disciplines.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ranga Zinyemba, who said 22 of the graduands were from their Bulawayo satellite campus, shared the university’s strategic plan of building campuses in each of the country’s eight Catholic dioceses by 2022.
“We meet today to celebrate the achievements of 163 graduates in the faculties of Commerce, Humanities and Social Sciences and Theology for degree and certificate programmes. Last year we had 89 graduates and this year’s 163 means we have an increase of 74 above last year’s figure,” he said.
Prof Zinyemba said the growth was due to support the university continued to get from various stakeholders. Student numbers have soared from 280 students in 2013 to 2 153 in April 2016. The institution targets enrolment of 10 000 by 2022.
The rise in numbers has also been necessitated by the introduction of new degree programmes namely; Bachelor of Business Management, Accounting and Science in Development Studies.
Weaving humorous anecdotes into his speech, the professor said the university had recently started a curriculum review of all programmes to fully embrace Government’s thrust of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
“We have found this a worthwhile drive, as it has helped us to ensure our programmes are relevant in the environment we are operating in. Our focus is on producing students who are ready for the future.”
Prof Zinyemba acknowledged the support the university was getting from bishops in teh form of donations to equip the library and spearheading a drive to mobilise funds to build infrastructure.
Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu, the university’s chancellor, presided over the graduation ceremony which was also attended by Bishops Angel Floro (Gokwe), Alberto Serrano (Hwange), Xavier Munyongani (Gweru) and Micharl Bhasera (Zimbabwe Catholic Bishop Conference President).
Also present were Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, officials from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and vice-chancellors from other universities.
