By Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa Friday capped a total 2385 graduands at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU)’s 23rd graduation ceremony at the institution’s campus in Harare.
The graduands were conferred with degrees in disciplines ranging from Agriculture, Sciences, Commerce, Applied Social Sciences, Education, Arts and Heritage Studies, among others. The cohort comprises 79 Diplomas, 1,786 Undergraduate Degrees, 191 Postgraduate Diplomas, 316 Master’s Degrees, and 13 Doctoral Degrees. Notably, 67% of the graduates are female.
He officially unveiled a plaque on the institution’s newly constructed teaching and learning center at the university’s headquarters in Hatcliffe.
Vice Chancellor Prof Emeritus Paul Gundani took to the podium at the graduation ceremony, where he reflected on the achievements of the graduands and the university’s progress.
“The success of the graduands is largely attributed to the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) and the heritage-based education system that had been ushered in by the Government.I pay tribute to students and lecturers who had passed on during the year, acknowledging their contributions to the university community,” said
Gundani highlighted several notable achievements by ZOU students, including the development of virtual reality projects, as well as agriculture and transport applications.
“The students are the heartbeat of the university,” he said. “Their dedication to both the community and the institution is truly commendable,” he said.
He further explained that the newly commissioned building would provide accommodation for staff members in Harare and Chitungwiza, strengthening the university’s infrastructure.
He underscored that more than 1,833 individuals across the country had benefited from short courses offered by ZOU in partnership with the Angel of Hope Foundation on the back of plans to set up an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center in Epworth, ensuring that no one or no place would be left behind in terms of access to education.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted that the university had launched a clothing company dedicated to manufacturing graduation regalia and branded clothing. This initiative had resulted in savings of approximately US$200,000 annually.
Additionally, Prof Gundani spoke about ZOU’s renewable energy enterprise, which aimed to convert bio-methane gas into usable energy, marking a significant step toward sustainability. He also mentioned the agro-park in Kadoma, which served as a hub for multiple disciplines, including Agriculture, Business, Engineering, and Environmental Sciences.
