Chinhoyi University of Technolo-gy launched its 2016-2020 Strate-gic Plan on February 23, 2016. The function was attended by the full University Councillors, the Vice Chancellor Professor D.J. Simbi, his two Acting Pro-Vice Chancel-lors Professor Z. Muranda and Professor F.T. Mugabe, Deans and Chairpersons of departments.The Chairman of Council, Profes-sor Robson Mafoti launched the Strategic Plan.The launching of the Strategic Plan follows hard on the heels of the Strategic Planning Workshop that was held at Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga from July 15-17, 2015 which set the tone for a paradigm shift in the wake of depleted support from the national fiscus. The Council chairman reiterated

the need for the University to come up with ways of exploring and consolidating existing and potential revenue streams so that the University funds half its operations.Professor Mafoti also informed those present that the Strategic Plan clearly spelt out the growth trajectory of the University in the context of new national priorities and global demands that were driven by fast changing technolo-gy and the ever need for resource mobilisation.“I’m one of those who have been here the past seven years and can say a lot has been accomplished,” said Prof. Mafoti, “but there is always a need this time around to be creative, innovative and do things that have not been done

anywhere. We have to be entre-preneurial and Prof Muranda, the onus is on you and your team to help us go through this roadmap. The importance of STEM should be emphased and there should there should be emphasis on implementation.”Professor Mafoti recognised the growth of Chinhoyi University of Technology from having only three PhD-holding staff members to the current situation where the University boasts of over sixty senior academics that include full professors. He implored the University to produce competi-tive and impressive products so that the University becomes the preferred brand.

cutpublicr@gmail.com 08 March 2016

STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-2020 LAUNCHED

“It is no longer business as usual for Universities” said Prof. Simbi in his opening remarks during the launch of the CUT Strategic Plan 2016-2020.“The future of this University lies in the footpaths we’ve set for our-selves,” Prof. Simbi added, “there are those who have been on the juggernaut, some have fallen aside and some continue to be part of this juggernaut. We all pray that we be given more wisdom to say candidly that we have failed to achieve what we set out to achieve and we must do better.”Prof.Simbi also said that the Uni-versity has taken up the challenge that future scientific research should aim at producing Intellec-tual Property and that research should be sensitive to Zimbabwe’s needs. This was key to institution-al and national imperatives. The national imperatives that the Vice Chancellor said will guide the Uni-versity’s strategic Plan include Sci-ence, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Industriali-sation and Innovation, harnessing of ICTs, Entrepreneurship, Quality Higher Education, Sustainable Development Goals, Inclusion of differently-abled persons, Gender Imbalances and Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.In the same story Chinhoyi Uni-versity of Technology Registrar Mr. Thomas Brighton Bhebe said that one had to choose what he/she would do and what one would not do and he advised that “You will not win everywhere, but there is a good chance for you to win some-where.” The Registrar advised.He also likened the University business environment to a bat-tlefield where survival was for the

fittest hence there was a need for a strategy if one was to win. “You therefore need to have a shared roadmap called a Strategic Plan,” said the Mr. Bhebe. The Registrar also provided an insight on the meaning of “strategy” which he said was borne out of the military conflicts and the use of superior strategy enabled one warring party to defeat another. “Define your competitive space and work to occupy it like the biggest mountain you know. The greatest Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu wrote: ‘Victory is figured at Army Headquarters. It is one who has the best strategic plan who wins the battle. Battles are often won in the mind long before we engage the enemy’” the Registrar said.Mr. Bhebhe went on to say, “If your opponent is superior in strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, so that he may grow arrogance. If he is at ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him when he is most unprepared. Appear where you are not expect-ed.”He said there were ten Key Result Areas that the University’s Strate-gic Plan was hinged on and these were: excellence in teaching and learning; research, scholarship, creativity and innovation; infra-structure and accessories; invest-ment and resource mobilization; quality assurance systems; corpo-rate governance and organization-al stewardship; information and Communication technologies, pro-moting outreach and community engagement; creating a distinct institutional brand and lastly producing a well-groomed

Mr. T. Bhebhe- Registrar

“It is nolonger business as usual”- VC

Prof Simbi-Vice Chancellor

Part of the audience during the CUT Strategic Plan

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POSTGRAGUATE SCHOLARSHIP LAUNCHED

The CUT Vice Chancellor Professor D.J. Simbi reached yet another mile-stone for the University in particular and the Zimbabwean academia in general when he launched the Vice Chancellor’s Post-Graduate Excellence Scholarship that will see students graduating with distinctions and merits qualify for funding to the tune of US$8 600 per year to undertake post-graduate studies in selected fields as a way to profer solutions to home grown problems. Professor Simbi made this announce-ment during this MPHIL and DPHIL Scholarship fund Launch on February 17, 2016. The event was highly at-tended by Executive members, Deans, Senior academics, Lecturers and Senior University staff members. “Let’s not export our young talent,” stressed Prof. Simbi, “but let this be a platform for our national human capital development efforts so that we identify young talent from this University who will help solve nation-al problems that are of a Zimbabwean nature. Climate change is one such fertile area which needs research. Out there are a lot of foreign Universities,

for example in Denmark they reserve 2 500places for scholarships to be awarded to foreign students who do research that only help their country. It is now our time that we avail such funding to our young talent to pursue Masters and Doctoral research studies that benefit Zimbabwe. Let this be the genesis of research funding that is aimed at equipping our young talents who excel at their undergraduate and graduate studies who with time will help us solve some of the problems bedevilling the nation.”The Vice Chancellor’s Post-Graduate Excellence Scholarship is meant for Zimbabwean students and the proj-ect will initially start with those who studied at the University. The Schol-arships are awarded in all subject areas available at the University and preference will be given to students willing to study subjects relevant to the development of the country and in line with the mandate of the Uni-versity. These are available for a two-year Master of Philosophy degree and a 3-year Doctor of Philosophy fulltime post graduate qualification with CUT being the chief Scholarship provider. The Scholarship will be taken at Chin-hoyi University of Technology and the University aims to award one schol-arship in each of the eight Schools at

“Let’s not export our young talent,” stressed Prof. Sim-bi, “but let this be a platform for our national human capital develop-ment efforts so that we identify young talent from this University who will help solve national problems that are of a Zim-babwean nature. Climate change is one such fertile

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PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS TRICKLE IN TO APPLY AT CUT

Prospective undergraduates students jostled to secure study places at the only Mashonaland West provincial University which is mandated to offer Science, technology and entrepreneurship degree programmes in the country. In a snap survey con-ducted by CUT Weekly, hundreds of prospective students were seen applying to be admitted into the March intake thus making Chinhoyi University of Technology a preferred higher and tertiary brand not only within the province but around the whole country. Chinhoyi University of Technology has over the years developed into a preferred science and technology brand in the country, within the region and in Africa as it has attracted students from as far as Sudan and Nambia who come to study under-graduate and post-graduate degree programmes. The University offers unique degree programmes, chief among them being Mechatronic Engineering, Biotechnology, Supply Chain Management and Visu-al Communication & Multimedia Design that are well sought in industry and commerce besides running with the national vision of creating entrepreneurs hence the mission “to produce innovative graduates, create knowledge, enhance entrepreneurship and provide community service through quality teach-ing, training and technologically-oriented research.” The University has also attracted over sixty senior ac-ademics who teach in its different schools. Chinhoyi University of Technology is the only University in the country that is a proud owner of two star (L**) hotels (CUT Hotel and Orange Grove Motel & Caravan Park) that act both as Strategic Business Units(SBUs) and training schools for those undertaking degree pro-grammes in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, as well as the Farm Research Unit that gives hands on to Agriculture Students and Researchers apart from other commercial activities that are run there.

(picture below) CUT undergraduate students caught by the photographer surfing the internet. There are several hotspots around the Campus giving students total access to educational databases and many other services through Wifi.

Professor Edson Gandiwa, the School of Wildlife, Ecology & Conserva-tion Dean was selected to be an Affiliate of African Academy of Sciences (AAS) for the period 2016 to 2020 ahead of other applicants from Eastern, Western, Central, Southern and North Africa. The AAS Affil-iate Program sets to support Universities’ efforts to achieve professional growth of young and early-to-mid career profes-sionals into research leaders.

The inaugural meeting of the Academy was convened in Nairobi, Kenya, on 3–6 June 1986, during the International Con-ference on Drought, Desertification and Food Deficit in Africa, which was jointly sponsored by AAS, TWAS and the United States National Academy of Science (US-NAS). The broad policy outcomes of this conference have acted as the templates for the core programmes of AAS ever since, with the focus areas being;- bio-technology; soil and water management; improved food production and value addition, as well as the associated goals in capacity building, information dissem-ination; networking; science and tech-nology policy change and advocacy, and adoption of new modalities for obtaining sustained government and donor sup-port for AAS efforts in problem solving research and development. The seminal idea of creating a conti-nent-wide academy of sciences was

hatched during the inaugural meeting of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy, 5–10 July 1985. The idea received further boost from the concurrent proceedings at the same venue of the International Conference on South-South and South-North Cooper-ation in Science, attended by about 250 delegates from 50 academies of science and research councils from various parts of the world. Consequently, a task force, chaired by the late Professor Thomas Risley Odhiambo, was charged with the planning and establishment of the proposed continental Academy. This task force presented its recommendations in a follow-up meeting in Trieste in Decem-ber 1985. The gathering unanimously adopted the recommendations of the task force, turned itself into a general assembly and formed a founding constit-uent assembly for the establishment of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) on l0 December 1985. The 33 participants at the gathering became the founding fellows of the new Academy and went on to elect its first officers. There are benefits to be derived by the Affiliation status of Professor Gandiwa to this body as the University continues to get recognition. Prof. Gandiwa’s associ-ation with this AAS will also enhance his professional standing and the University will benefit immensely in the seminars that he will attend on behalf of the School of Wildlife, Ecology & Conserva-tion and the University at large. On a separate issue Professor Edson Gandiwa will deliver an inaugural Public lecture at Chinhoyi University Technolo-gy Lecture Theatre as he becomes a full Professor and such a meteoric academic rise for such a young academic is com-mended.

PROFESSOR GANDIWA SELECTED INTO AAS

“The AAS Affiliate Pro-gram sets to support Uni-versities’ efforts to achieve professional growth of young and early-to-mid career professionals into research leaders.”

Disclaimer

Chinhoyi University of Technolo-gy takes no responsibility what-soever for any disputes or litiga-tion arising from the contents herein. “CUT Weekly” solely serves as a convenient medi-um of communication for brief news, information and adver-tisements on Campus highlights

EDITORIAL TEAM

StoriesSimba Pumhayi Kudzi Rusakaniko

PhotographySimba Pumhayi Kudzi Rusakaniko

Typesetting, Layout & DesignJackie Tanhara

Assistant EditorJackie Tanhara

Editor-in-ChiefM.C. Tapera

For your views and comments:

T: 067-29470E: pr@cut.ac.zw, cutpublicr@gmail.com

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Sports Cutweekly March 2016

CUT NETBALL QUEENS IN ZINA SEASON OPENER

Chinhoyi University of Technology Student netball team “CUT Netball Queens” that participated at the recently concluded Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) Annual opening tournament held at Stodart Hall Sports Complex in Mbare, Harare on Saturday to Sunday February 6-7,2016, gave a good account of themselves when they came an overall position six (6) out of twenty (20) teams that participat-ed. Judging from the fact that they only had been in camp for six days prior to the tournament, the undergraduates put up a sterling performance that awed seasoned uniformed services teams that included the Zimbabwe National Army, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. In the qualifying rounds CUT Netball Queens lost to ZRP Tomlison by 14 goals to 12, trouncing Gumbonzvanda High School by 14 goals to 6, losing to Nehanda Queens by 14 goals to 4, decimating TelOne by 12 goals to 3 and finally they outplayed ZRP Bindura by a massive 16 goals to 6. In the semi-finals, Chinhoyi University of Technology netball team narrowly bowed out to Ruwa Queens in a tightly contested match when they lost by 8 goals to 6. According to a communiqué from the Director of Sports Mr Petros Musiwacho the performance of the team at this year’s tournament the “team is likely to reach greater heights. Special gratitude to the team’s coach Mr. Maregera (Sports Janitor) for sacrificing his time and effort in moulding this formidable squad.”

Shumirai Muponda, a CUT Queens player scores in one game during the past season. She is an integral part of the CUT netball team that should do wonders this year.

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