Please Be Advised That The Physical Lectures That Were Scheduled To Start On The 12th Of July 2021 Have Been Postponed To A Date To Be Advised. This Has Been Necessitated By The Current Lockdown Regulations.
Please Remember To Always Wear Your Masks, Practise Social Distancing In Public Places And Wash/Sanitize Your Hands Regularly.
Thank You.
B Ngwenya
Registrar
Please be advised that Examinations that were scheduled to run from the 5th to the 9th of July, 2021 have been postponed to a date to be advised. This has been necessitated by the recent lockdown regulations that were imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19. Any inconvenience caused is regretted.
Please remember to always wear your mask correctly, practice social distancing in public places and wash/sanitize your hands regularly.
Acting Deputy Registrar
L J Hadebe
THE National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and innovators to commercialise and upscale their works so that they become viable and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In an interview on the side lines of the inaugural NUST Research and Innovation Expo 2021, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mqhele Dlodlo, said as part of the University mandate under Education 5.0, NUST will continue supporting SMEs and innovators to commercialise their goods and services.
“We have a mandate just like all universities under Education 5.0 to focus on innovation and industrialisation. Those are two additional focal points which are being added to community services, teaching and research. Within innovation, NUST has the additional mandate of training and helping SMEs and innovators to commercialise and upscale their works so that they become viable and significant contributors to the national gross domestic product (GDP),” said Prof Dlodlo.
He said there were a lot of bright people trying to make a difference with what they can afford on a small-scale and the expo exposed such ideas to experts so they could see the commercial potential in what they could come in.
Prof Dlodlo said the University will take on board some of the SMEs and innovators, incubate them and teach them some of the tricks they need to succeed out there as they set up their businesses and generate markets.
“In the past we were not involved in the commercialisation aspect of the innovations, but now under Education 5.0 the primary purpose of this is identifying commercial potential and intellectual property in these things. Then select a sample of those that we can support as a university and help them to venture into serious business,” he said.
Prof Dlodlo said the innovation and business development wing of the university got money from the Government last year, which contributed towards the fight against Covid-19 pandemic and the funds generated from that were now being used to support some of the innovations.
Prof Dlodlo said the funds were also being used to support SMEs that were starting businesses based on the laboratory outputs of NUST and these created niche markets for the university as in most cases they would provide new products and services. He commended SMEs using local resources from their natural heritage and creating various products from herbs, grasses and trees such as the baobab.
“There is just a lot of heritage that is being under-utilised. You may appreciate that you have grown up eating foreign fruits and yet our fruits are now just being eaten by animals out there in the bushes. These have very good sources of nutrition, but we have just have never commercialised them.
“This is the time that there is a great awakening that those fruits we are now buying from the shops and importing into the country can also be grown locally and yet much more cheaply. After then create products that can be commercialised,” said Prof Dlodlo.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Business Development, Dr Engineer William Goriwondo, said the expo was creating awareness and giving a chance to those that would want to innovate so that they could do so in a safe environment where they can be helped to protect their intellectual property and then go into business.
“Innovative ideas can be taken further and incubated into the Innovation Hub where we make life size prototypes, which will then prove the concept as well as identify the markets to which any such innovation could be utilised,” he said.
Dr Eng Goriwondo said as Government had a thrust of developing an upper middle class economy by 2030, the thrust could be achieved through action which required innovators to look at innovations that solve the country’s problems.
“So this platform has been created for us to partner and collaborate with all innovators within the university and also those outside to improve and aspire towards achieving Vision 2030. At the innovation hub we have aspects of creativity, innovation, and problem resolution,” said Dr Eng Goriwondo.
The inaugural annual Expo attracted a total of 32 exhibitors who showcased their innovative products and services.
A trained biology teacher Mr Enock Paradzai presented a mobile laboratory, which he called a Bus Lab.
According to Mr Paradzai the lab, which could be assembled and dissembled in any set up, is ideal for secondary schools that cannot afford to build labs.
Female inventors also responded to the invitation as they came and presented they are products.
Fedeliah Mangena, the founder of Imvelo, showcased products that are manufactured using herbs. There was dye for clothes made with bird plum (umnyii), shampoo made with aloe plant, mosquito repellents and narrow-pod elephant root (intolwane) which helps with colics.
Bulawayo Leather Cluster attended the Expo and showcased shoes which are made out of goat skin.
The Secretary of Bulawayo Leather Cluster, Mr Fungai Zvinondiramba, said they came to NUST to see if they could be helped with the manufacturing process.
“We can start with the manufacturing process; the components that we use such as soles, can be produced by NUST. The University can also manufacture moulds for belts and it would be easier if we were going to get some of these components at NUST because we can actually engrave our names onto the components,” said Mr Zvinondiramba.
He said the Bulawayo Leather Cluster is working with a lot of young people whom they are training and grooming. – Sunday News/NUST.
THE Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mqhele E. Dlodlo, addressed postgraduate students in the Graduate School of Business (GSB) during a welcome virtual function for the new intake for the 2021/2022 Academic Year in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management (BASM). The following is the full speech.
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IT is with immense pleasure that I welcome the 2021 cohorts of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management (BASM) to the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). Congratulations on deciding to study with us.
Founded in April 1991, about 30 years ago to be precise, NUST is one University with giant footprints. Our graduates are recognised globally as leaders in various fields. We strive to achieve our vision of being a world class university in science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development, spearheading industrialisation and locally and beyond. So, once you associate with NUST, you will forever THINK IN OTHER TERMS in whatever you do.
I address you as leaders from all spheres of life, seeing our Graduate School of Business (GSB) programmes are earmarked for leaders in society. There are different explanations with regard to where leadership originates from and who prompts it. Some say leadership is an art, others say it is talent. There are those who say it is a science. Yet others believe leadership is from God. Whatever the different schools of thought on leadership, there are common attributes that great leaders exhibit. They transform people, are intelligent, they display charisma, possess foresight and vision and have will power. Great leaders constantly spruce up and sharpen their leadership skills. Therefore, by choosing to study with NUST, you have made the right decision if you aim to be great leaders.
Also, as leaders you must lead from the front like the matriarch of an elephant herd who takes the lead in sensing where there is water, food and danger while the rest follow. To lead successfully, you need to be more knowledgeable than most of your colleagues and be able to reason and make intelligent judgement. One of the ways of cultivating this is dedicating your time to acquiring knowledge. Our mandate is human capital development for industrial and socio-economic transformation, with a bias towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) based solutions. In executing our mandate, we are guided by the new educational policy, Education 5.0 that stands on five pillars of teaching, research, scholarly community engagement, innovation and industrialisation. These pillars are crucial in the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 towards achieving the country’s Vision 2030. I strongly believe that you are furthering your studies not only to grow your careers but to contribute meaningfully to national development. Together, we can make a difference in society.
May I take this opportunity to invite all of you to activity participate in the research activities of our Research and Internationalisation Officer (RIO). We also invite you to utilise our Innovation Hub, where innovative ideas are incubated and grown into commercial businesses.
As NUST students, you are our greatest customers – our Kings and Queens. You are not dependent on us but we are dependent on you; for without you, there is no University. You are not an interruption in our work but the purpose of it. We are not doing you a favour by serving you, but you are doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to serve you. We are, therefore, committed to creating the most conducive learning environment in the context of the Covid-19 induced challenges. University Management operates an open door policy, which places dialogue at the top of options to solve issues. In fact, we invite you to offer strategies to improve on the performance of our NUST, your NUST.
Ladies and gentlemen, you are studying with us at a time when NUST is undergoing a transformation curve in various fronts. For example, we are at an advanced process of upgrading our internal systems to offer smooth and timely services such as admissions, registration and fees payments. You will surely experience improved services once the upgrades are completed. You will soon witness infrastructural developments on campus, as we embark on finishing the construction of buildings that have for years been an eyesore, as well as new buildings. I therefore invite you to participate in the growth of NUST in whatever ways possible.
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of NUST Council, Senate, Management, Staff and the entire student population, I welcome you all to NUST. Enjoy your career journey with us!
I thank you! Siyabonga! Tinotenda!
THE University has received funds from Government to procure a Covid-19 reagents manufacturing machine, which will enable NUST to make Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kits.
Once NUST starts manufacturing the PCR kits, the cost of Covid-19 testing in the country is expected to be reduced by over 60 percent.
Currently, the conclusive test costs about US$60 and may go as low as US$20 once the machine becomes operational.
Besides making Covid-19 testing kits, the machine can make reagents to test for many other diseases that include HIV.
The development will save the country from importing the conclusive diagnostic test kit that determines if one is infected by analysing a sample for genetic material from the virus.
The new machine will also enable the country to detect various Covid-19 variants.
NUST will produce about 50 000 PCR kits weekly while the country conducts about 15 000 Covid-19 weekly at the moment.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira, said Government released the funds as it realises the critical role played by NUST in the Covid-19 fight.
"It's our responsibility to support the Innovation Hub and one of the issues that NUST is doing is genetics stuff. You know that NUST was the first in Bulawayo to convert the TB Laboratories at Mpilo Central Hospital for Covid-19 testing. We are going further to try and manufacture some of the testing materials. We have gone ahead to fund them to do that. It's a lot of money. It is enough to buy the machine, the amount doesn't matter," said Prof Murwira.
He said the money will capacitate NUST to import the machine and install it.
The acting director of NUST Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC), Mr Zephaniah Dhlamini, said the machine will be delivered into the country in October.
He said due to Covid-19 related pressure, the manufacturer of the PCR making machine is battling to clear a backlog.
"They (Government) gave us €71 000 in US dollar equivalent terms (US$86 532.60). The money is meant to buy a DNA synthesizer also known as an oligomaker.
"This is a machine that makes primers which are the major reagents of PCR testing. The DNA synthesizers are used to synthesise what we call in short oligos and these are the key reagents in PCR reactions or tests," he said.
"We will use this machine to synthesise primers to tests Covid-19 and also detect different variants in Covid-19 samples. We can easily match the variant with primers. In essence, we would now be making reagents of PCR testing."
Mr Dhlamini added: "So AGTC is moving a step further rather than just testing we are saying let us manufacture reagents. This machine is used for manufacturing PCR primers among other things. We hope that when we start manufacturing these reagents, Covid-19 tests will be reduced to around US$20 to US$25."
He said the oligomaker will be the first DNA synthesiser in the country.
"It does PCR primers, they can be used in so many things, we can make PCR primus for HIV testing and HIV viral load testing. Even in forensic we can now make forensic PCR kits for detecting variations in wild animals like elephants and so on and so forth. The applications are endless," he said. – Online.
THE University is encouraging students to utilise the Students Counselling and Advisory services offered by the Division of Students Affairs.
The Director for Communication and Marketing, Mr Thabani Mpofu, assured students that the University counselling and advisory services uphold confidentiality and highest standards of professionalism.
“As a university, we offer counselling services through the Students Counselling and Advisory Services located at the Division of Student Affairs. The office, which is manned by full-time professional counsellors, offers free and confidential interventions to all students. These vary from individual counselling sessions, group counselling sessions for students with shared interests, to workshops for common campus life challenges such as Substance Abuse, Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and Aids, Depression, and Anxiety management,” he said.
The call follows recent incidents of suicide involving students who are studying online from the comfort of their homes.
“The Counselling and Advisory Services office works very closely with other service centres like the Chaplaincy, the NUST Clinic, Student Representative Council (SRC) and academic departments and faculties in providing effective and timely services to students.
“We encourage students to utilise the Students’ Counselling and Advisory office, which offers services on personal health and psychological concerns; inter/intrapersonal problems; academic pressures and financial challenges; family concerns including illness and bereavement; developmental issues such as relationships and anger management; transitional challenges like separation anxiety and phobia; anxiety; suicidal ideations; cultural diversity; abilities/disabilities diversity; Sexual and Reproductive Health issues and HIV and Aids information and support among others.”
Mr Mpofu said before the Covid-19 pandemic, the counselling services were easily accessible on campus.
However, adapting to the new normal, the University, working together with the students’ representative council (SRC) and in partnership with non-governmental organisations, will soon be running virtual awareness campaigns to support students who are studying online across the country.
“We appeal to parents and guardians to contact the University whenever they notice unusual behaviour of their children, who are our students, so that they can be assisted through Counselling and Advisory Services office,” said Mr Mpofu.
NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS
Further to our notice of 4 December 2020 on the Student Portal and subsequent payments towards the Netone Student Data Scheme, we sadly advise that the Scheme was eventually stopped by the service provider before students benefited.
By then students who had paid were 46 whereas the scheme dictated that beneficiaries would start when a minimum number of 50 students had paid.
We, therefore request the affected students to give us instructions by way of:
In each instance please indicate your student number, bank name, branch and account number and your programme if transferring to the student fees account to:
L NCUBE (Mr)
DEPUTY BURSAR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
8 JUNE 2021
Admission Into Postgraduate Degree And Postgraduate Diploma Programmes For The 2021 Intake
Applications are invited from candidates who meet the requirements for entry into the First Year of the Postgraduate Degree Programmes, for the 2021 Intake.
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) will be hosting a Research and Innovation Expo as part of the University drive to promote innovations that can be up-scaled into commercial profitable businesses.
The inaugural Expo, is organised by the Innovation Hub in conjunction with the Research and Internationalisation Office.
“NUST will be hosting the first Research and Innovation Expo on the 10th of June 2021 from 0900 hours to 1600 hours at the main campus. Participants are invited to pitch their ideas during the Expo Day. They can physically bring their innovations, models, prototypes, or use posters and videos,” said Mr Thabani Mpofu, the Director for Communication and Marketing.
He added that the Expo targets all innovators including students, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, small to medium enterprises, youths and ordinary citizens with any science work that can be showcased.
Mr Mpofu said the Expo is part of the University’s efforts of implementing Education 5.0 whose pillars are teaching, research, community engagement, innovation and industrialisation.
“As a University, we believe we cannot do this alone hence the idea to open up the Innovation Hub to all innovators.
“Talented innovators will work together with our experts from diverse fields including scientists, engineers, architects, accountants, marketers among others to develop their innovations into viable self-sustainable businesses. The University will provide resources for selected projects that can be commercialised,” said Mr Mpofu adding that the Innovation Hub is a centre for incubating innovations that can be commercialised to set up industries.
The NUST Innovation Hub was launched by President E.D Mnangagwa more than a year ago as part of the country’s Education 5.0 initiative to nurture an enabling environment where a community of entrepreneurs including students and high school pupils can grow and contribute to the development of Zimbabwe.
He said any innovation that can contribute to national socio-economic development as spelt out in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) is welcome.
The University will assess each innovation on a case-by-case basis and offer the required assistance.
The country’s institutions of higher learning have a critical role to play in the NDS1 as stated in the Education 5.0 policy.
“While our mandate is human capital development for industrialisation and socio-economic transformation with a bias towards STEM based solutions, Education 5.0 demands that universities become Zimbabwe’s modernisation and industrialisation champions.
“As NUST, we have adopted an inclusive approach to innovations and industrialisation hence the call for all innovators to participate in the upcoming expo,” added Mr Mpofu.
He assured participants that all the Covid-19 protocols will be observed as the health and safety of the nation is top priority.