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NUST, through the Innovation Hub and in collaboration with international partners, has started manufacturing 3D printed face shields and N95 face masks, as the University continues to support the national effort against the Covid-19 pandemic.

This new initiative builds on previous successful NUST Covid-19 response st rategies including the manufacturing of a Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) certified hand sanitiser, Nustiser, and production of face masks. NUST is also at the forefront of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Covid-19 testing services through its Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC).

“3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a manufacturing process where a 3D printer creates three-dimensional objects by depositing molten plastic filament layer by layer in accordance to the object’s 3D digital model until a complete object is formed,” said Dr Peter Nkala, the Acting Pro-Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Business Development.

He added that the 3D-printed face masks that incorporate an N95-grade HEPA and face shields are highly recommended to the frontline workers and other medical staff who are exposed to aerosol producing procedures.

“The role of the face shield is to prevent potentially infected aerosol micro droplets from entering the eye, thereby infecting exposed personnel. The face masks will provide N95-level filtration and this is achieved through the incorporation of an N95-grade HEPA filter,” he explained.

The 3D printing of PPEs follows an 8-week online training course attended by 30 members of staff and 10 students who were joined by participants in universities from 16 other African countries.

“The training, titled ‘COVID-19 Response in Africa 3D Printing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Ventilator Components’, was facilitated by Worcester Polytechnic Institute in USA and supported by the World Bank,” said Mr Arnold Moyo,  the Manager of Innovation and Business Development.

He added that the training opportunity was brought to NUST by one of its partners, Research||Design||Build, a USA-based afro-centric research institute focused on building community-grassroots-based capacity to address local socio-economic challenges through the use of local resources, albeit informed by lessons from global experiences. 

The course covered the following topics: Infectious Disease, 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, Molding; Sewing, Testing and Sterilizing Face Masks; Ventilator Design & Assembly, Ventilator Assembly cont’d and Introduction to Medical Robotics.

“This course did not only support the University’s response strategies to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also enabled relevant departments to build capacity for the introduction of new degree programmes such as the envisaged Bio-Engineering,” noted Mr Moyo.

As part of the training, NUST received a donation of a brand new Ender300 3D printing machine and accompanying consumables.

All the products to be manufactured using these donated consumables will be freely distributed to local health institutions.

Mr Nkosilathi Zinti Nkomo and Engineer Blessed Sarema, lecturers from the departments of Materials Engineering and Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering respectively, are leading the NUST teams in the 3D manufacturing of PPEs while also facilitating practical training of other members of staff.

THE NUST Enactus team has won the 2020 Enactus Zimbabwe Annual National Competition ahead of nine other local universities to book a place in the World Cup scheduled for Utretch, Netherlands later this year.

In winning the innovation competition, which was held virtually from 29 to 31 July 2020, the NUST Enactus team shrug off stiff competition from Harare Institute of Technology in second place and University of Zimbabwe in third position.

Other universities that participated include Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, Africa University, Bindura University of Science of Technology, Catholic University, and Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University.

The World Cup competitions will be held virtually on Launch Pad 6 from the 8^th to the 10^th of September 2020.

The 24-member NUST Enactus team made up of students from various faculties, was inspired by the impact of Covid-19 on vegetable market vendors, who used to operate in city centres across the country but were displaced as local authorities moved in to decongest the urban centres.

The team used WhatsApp and SMS messages to create innovative online platforms for vendors to market and sell their products while operating from home during the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

In preparation for the competition the NUST Enactus team simple made use of WhatsApp to hold their annual pre-competition camp, as well as ZOOM meetings for the presentation rehearsals.

“As NUST Enactus, we came along with our project VendorsHub that creates opportunities for vendors to be able to continue trading as they have been affected by the Covid-19 induced city councils’ decision to decentralise the operations of vendors by moving them out of the city centres where vendors could easily access both their suppliers and customers,” said Miss Uratile Nare, the NUST Enactus Secretary General.

Not only did the NUST Enactus team come first but they also bagged a team award and three individual medals.

The Enactus Boost Fellowship awarded Nare, the Secretary General of NUST Enactus, a Fellow of the Year Award for demonstrating passion, seeing possibilities, taking action, and enabling progress for BOOST Enactus Zimbabwe.

She was also recognised as the Outstanding Social Media Ambassador for actively empowering and sharing content about the 2020 Enactus Zimbabwe National Virtual Competition through social media as an extension of the Enactus BOOST Fellowship team.

David Mahachi, the NUST Enactus Alumni, won the Social Media Recognition Award for actively sharing content about the 2020 Enactus Zimbabwe National Competition through social media as an extension of the Enactus BOOST Fellowship team.

The NUST Enactus team also won the Team Spirit Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to transform and enrich communities as well as consistency and most improved team.

To put up a winning presentation, the NUST Enactus team partnered with FarmHut, a registered innovative online organisation founded by a NUST Part IV student in Chemical Engineering, Mr Ryan Katayi.

FarmHut assists small-scale farmers to market their produce online while FarmMarket links vendors with clients all over the country.

“With FarmHut already crowd-funding small-scale farmers and helping them to come to life, a viable marketplace has also been created through which farmers’ produce could be sold. This led to the birth of FarmMarket, an online market place through which customers can purchase fresh farm produce from vendors,” said Miss Nare.

FarmMarket has allowed the small-scale farmers to access markets they did not have before. The solution involves selling farm produce through a network of decentralised vendors who are operating from within suburbs, and not the city centre.

“Vendors need not worry about how they will restock for their vending operations before their coffers run dry. Communication on the vendors’ inventory is done via WhatsApp and SMS to keep communication costs at a minimum, allowing us to know which vendors need which produce replenished. This now allows FarmHut’s small-scale farmers to reach an even larger market they couldn’t previously access through the FarmMarket internet platform,” said Miss Nare.

THE proposed transformation of Ekusileni Medical Centre into a specialist research and training institution is a breakthrough for the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) that wants to set up a medical school.

The university envisages Ekusileni becoming the crux of medical tourism that may generate much needed foreign currency for the country and provide essential services for locals at affordable costs.

Medical tourism results when foreigners visit a country for medical services.

India and South Africa are among the countries that are benefiting from traffic from Zimbabwe as the countries have better facilities to treat most ailments and usually charge less.

It is the university’s vision to ultimately have highly specialised cardiac, renal and respiratory care (surgical and medical), that is not being offered in the country, and a specialised research centre to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases at Ekusileni Medical Centre.

Nust has been running a Faculty of Medicine since 2005 in collaboration with Mpilo Central Hospital.

Cabinet last month resolved that post Covid-19, Ekusileni Medical Centre, will be transformed into a specialist research and teaching hospital run by National Social Security Authority (Nssa) with Nust providing technical expertise.

The medical centre premises have been idle since it was constructed in 2001 before it was briefly operational for seven months in 2004 after it was equipped with obsolete equipment.

Ekusileni Medical Centre, a brainchild of late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Nkomo has had several false reopening episodes, since it closed down.

The state-of-the-art 200-bed hospital is being renovated to handle Covid-19 critical patients but Government is already planning beyond the pandemic due to shortcomings in the country’s health sector, characterised by lack of specialists’ doctors.

Nust has described the Cabinet position as a breakthrough that the university has always hoped for in line with its vision of positively impacting the community.

Nust acting communication and marketing director Mr Thabani Mpofu said the university was not surprised when Government took up the decision to make the institution a specialist research and training institution.

He said while Cabinet resolved to make the research and training institution, the recommendation came from stakeholders in Bulawayo who saw the gap that Nust could fill to provide specialised training.

In future, this could lead to medical tourism as has been done by countries such as India.

“The approval by Government to transform Ekusileni Medical Centre into a specialist research and teaching hospital is a breakthrough that Nust council, management and staff have been waiting for. The proposal to establish Ekusileni Research and Teaching Specialist (ERTS) Hospital was born out of the partnership among Nssa, the Government through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology Development, the City of Bulawayo, Nust and the I am for Bulawayo Fighting Covid-19 Trust,” said Mr Mpofu.

“To kick start the process of establishing ERTS in post Covid-19, the university has submitted an initial draft memorandum of understanding among stakeholders, operationalisation plan and formalisation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to the Government through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology Development.”

He said since Nust launched the Faculty of Medicine in 2005, the university has wished to have a fully furnished medical school.

“The opportunity to run a specialist research and teaching hospital therefore resonates with our vision of being a world class university in science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development spearheading industrialisation locally and beyond,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said the specialist research and training institution is line with Father Zimbabwe’s dream.

“The nation is yearning for provision of specialist health services, some of which are not readily available in the country. These include highly specialised cardiac, renal and respiratory care (surgical and medical), currently not being offered in the country. A specialised research centre to tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases will also be set up at the ERTS Hospital,” said Mr Mpofu.

“Therefore, Nust, as a science-oriented university has grabbed the opportunity to provide such specialist services at an affordable cost to the nation.”
NSSA is also optimistic that post- Covid-19, Ekusileni will finally be put into good use.

NSSA marketing and communications executive Mr Tendai Mutseyekwa said the parastatal has commenced talks with Nust on how to operationalise the Cabinet resolution.

“The authority is working with the other stakeholders, particularly Nust, to put in place a model to operationalise the hospital. NSSA is an investor with the necessary capacity to fund, employ and/or partner with experienced hospital operators,” said Mr Mutseyekwa.

“The hospital will initially continue to be used as a Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre. The specialised medical institution will be established post Covid-19. From a NSSA perspective we intend to equip the hospital with modern state-of-the-art medical equipment that will be used for the training of specialist doctors.”

He said it was too early to speak about budget allocations towards the project.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation and Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, said the transformation of Ekusileni Medical Centre into specialist research and training institution is futuristic and a breakthrough needed in the country’s health sector.

Prof Murwira said this would result in citizens accessing specialist health care at affordable prices.

At the moment scores of people have to seek external treatment for complicated illnesses with those who cannot afford dying quietly in their home. – Chronicle.

A NEW era dawns at NUST as the University bade farewell to some of its founding senior staff members who served the institution with much dedication and commitment.

NUST Council, management and workers associations, last week bade farewell to two of its former senior managers, Dr Fortune Nkomo, who was the University Bursar, and Mr Felix Moyo who served as the Director of Communication and Marketing not long after the retirement of the University’s Registrar, Mr Fidelis Mhlanga.

“You have left NUST in an honourable manner,” said the Chairman of the NUST Council, Eng Alvord Mabena, in his farewell remarks to the three. “As you walk out of the institution’s gates, you can walk tall because you walk out clean.”

He applauded the three for their sterling service, which give a total of 79 years when combined, and thanked them for choosing to spend a part of their lifetime growing NUST.

“As a team, you always ensured that NUST business moves forward and it’s a fact that your departure has a destabilising effect on the University. As Council we are working to bring stability by recruiting capable staff to continue the work of moving NUST forward,” he noted.

Eng Mabena challenged senior management who were present to ensure NUST re-gains its position as a leader in science and technology.

“Let us respond by coming up with innovations, and adapt to the new normal. We need to have focus, and if we work as a team, the power in us will be useful, as we work to serve our future generations,” he said. 

Bidding his farewell to the former Bursar and Director, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mqhele Dlodlo remarked how the two kept the reputation of NUST afloat in all their years of service, owing to the nature of their jobs. 

“Dr Nkomo controlled NUST funds and always sought to solve the problems that we found ourselves in by managing the damage that was caused by the University community,” he noted. “He used our motto ‘think in other terms’ very well as he took the University through the hard-economic times and hence we stand today.”

Prof Dlodlo also gave credit to Mrs Nkomo, who was also present, that through her immeasurable support at home, Dr Nkomo was able to hold the fort well at NUST.

“Mr Moyo, you unified communication and marketing and always told the NUST story based on facts,” said Prof Dlodlo about the former director of Communication and Marketing. “You kept the media under control and guided them into portraying a positive image about NUST. Today, NUST is an influence within and to outside stakeholders because of the communication and marketing director.”   

Speaking on behalf of the Bursar’s department, Mr Lawrence Ncube, who is also the Deputy Bursar, highlighted how Dr Nkomo was a unifier within the department and mentored many in their academic work.

“Dr Nkomo taught us that as a person, one needs to be established in their role in order to be effective,” he said, while adding that because of his other title of Pastor, a lot of marriages within the Bursar’s Department were solemnised during his years as the head of the department.

The former Bursar’s colleague, Mrs Phiona Ndebele, and the former Bursar’s Personal Assistant, Ms Simakuhle Dube, also echoed similar sentiments by sharing how Dr Nkomo had been a good friend to all in the department.

The Communication and Marketing Officer, Mrs Lindiwe Nyoni, highlighted how Mr Moyo lived his life promoting, protecting and defending NUST.

“We know as you take your retirement you will always have NUST at heart. You will defend it, you will protect it, you will promote it because it is your DNA,” she said.

She thanked Mr Moyo for his gift of unifying people, problem-solving and ensuring that the COMA department was always a happy working environment.

The personal assistant to Mr Moyo, Mrs Sitheni Badza, expressed her gratitude to Mr Moyo for allowing her and everyone else within the department to flourish in their careers and as people in general, because he supported ideas from all members of the department regardless of rank or position.

Speaking as a colleague to Mr Moyo, the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education, Prof Stanley Mpofu, described him as someone who would never turn down a person who needed help.

“Felix was always there for those who needed his help; be it fuel, mealie-meal or assistance in securing a new passport,” expressed Prof Mpofu. “He was highly protective of his own, and was one who represented fairness and being just in everything he did.”

He further pointed out that Mr Moyo, who gave NUST all he could, was a performer par-excellence in his duties, and there was no one who could emulate that trait.

Representatives of staff associations also spoke on how well they had worked with the former Registrar, Bursar and Director of Communication and Marketing noting that in issues regarding staff welfare, the three always opened the door to staff associations’ representatives and issues were discussed amicably.

In their responses, the three former senior members expressed how the occasion was humbling to them, and how grateful they have been for serving the institution for these years.

“In my years at NUST, I was taught to be purpose-driven and I learnt a lot from colleagues in their various capacities,” said Dr Nkomo. “I must say that NUST has fine, hardworking staff who are diligent and competent and have the ability to take NUST forward.”

Dr Nkomo joined NUST on 1 August 1991 as senior assistant bursar and rose through the ranks to his appointment as Bursar on 1 January 2010. His contract as Bursar ended on 30 April 2020.

In his response, Mr Mhlanga noted that the NUST community members, in their different roles and functions, can work towards achieving the University vision.

He joined the University on 1 May 1994 as assistant registrar in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. He assumed various positions leading to his appointment as the Registrar in 2009, a position he held until his retirement on 30 April 2020.

Responding to various speeches, Mr Moyo thanked NUST and the department of COMA for their support during his tenure as director, and encouraged the University to adapt to the new way of doing things, to change administrative systems and improve on service delivery so as to fully serve the client.

Mr Moyo joined NUST in 1997 as Industrial Liaison Officer and was appointed director of COMA in 2005, a position he held until his retirement on 30 June 2020.

Following the announcement by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe on the new lockdown measures and also in compliance with a circular from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, students are advised to take note of the following:

1. Examinations for the Final Year Students will continue as scheduled.
2. Face-to-face lectures on campus have been suspended with immediate effect. Teaching and learning will now be conducted online.
3. No student other than those that are sitting for examinations are allowed on campus. 

E Phiri

Deputy Registrar - Academic

Dear Students 

NUST has developed some regulations to guide students as we prepare to write examinations during the Covid-19 period. The guidelines are to ensure safety of staff and students. We therefore call upon all students to abide by the following regulations to ensure successful writing of examinations. 

Entry into the Examination venue

All students entering the examination venue must be hand sanitised and temperature checked before entering the Examination Venue. Wearing of masks correctly is mandatory and any student without a mask will be denied entry into the Examination Venue. Observance of social distancing at all times is mandatory. Grouping of candidates outside the examination venue without observance of social distancing will not be allowed. Candidates who do not comply may face disciplinary action. In accordance with the revised Examinations Regulations for Candidates, a candidate will not normally be admitted into the Examination Venue 30 minutes after the start of an Examination and such lateness may disqualify him/her altogether, according to the revised Examination Regulations available on https://www.nust.ac.zw/index.php/home/administration/registrars-department/examinations.html 

Distribution of Question Papers

Before distribution of Question Papers, invigilators are required to sanitise their hands while wearing a mask. 

Collection of attendance Slips and Scripts

A collection box for the attendance slips will be provided. Candidates will be required to drop their attendance slips into the provided box as the Invigilator moves around collecting the slips. Another box for dropping in the examination script at the end of the examination will be provided. Thus an Invigilator will not go around the examination venue to collect the scripts but students will take their scripts to the Invigilator according to their sitting arrangement. Signing of the attendance register will be done in conjunction with the submission of scripts. The process will entail a candidate signing the attendance register after dropping the script into the box. 

All these measures are meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 virus while ensuring that examinations are conducted successfully. For the avoidance of doubt, please note that sanitising hands means that hand sanitiser should be applied to the hands spread over palms and fingers for 20 seconds from the wrist down while wearing a mask means the mask should cover both face and mouth completely. 

Mr E Phiri

Deputy Registrar – Academic

POSTGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME: 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

Master of Engineering Degree in Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering (Block Release)

Entry Requirements

1. The normal entry requirements is an Honours degree with at least 2.2 degree classification in Chemical Engineering or related disciplines (e.g. Environmental Engineering, Applied Biochemistry, Applied Chemistry, Metallurgical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Process Engineering, Petrochemical Engineering) from an accredited college or university. 
2. Post qualification work experience will be an added advantage. 

NB Admission into the programme will be subject to adequate numbers of applicants qualifying to make a class

A non-refundable application fee of $100, must accompany the Application Form.

Applicants should attach CERTIFIED copies of the following:

1. a) Birth Certificate 
2. b) National Registration Identity Card 
3. c) Relevant academic and/or professional Certificates and Transcripts 
4. d) Detailed Curriculum Vitae, which should include names and addresses of two referees 
5. e) Full contact details: home and work landline telephone numbers, cell numbers and email address(es) 

The Application Forms can be obtained from:

The Senior Assistant Registrar, Admissions and Students Records, NUST, Gwanda Road/Cecil Avenue, P. O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo. Telephone 09-282842/39/58; 289557; 284231; Fax: 09-286803, Or The NUST Information Office in HARARE, at ZIMDEF House, 18572 OFF Mother Patrick Avenue, Rotten Row. Phone 04-794848, or may be downloaded by clicking here

Please note that ALL HARARE APPLICANTS are required to deposit their application fees of $100 to the following bank: ZB Bank, Jason Moyo Branch, Account Number 4372-035542-090, before collecting application forms from the NUST Harare office.

Closing date of the advertisement: 13 JULY 2020

NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE FIRST YEAR UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS FOR THE 2020 ACADEMIC YEAR 

22 June 2020 

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has received inquiries on the selection of First Year Undergraduate and Postgraduate students for the 2020 Academic Year following the publication of the list on the 11th of June 2020. We wish to advise as follows: 

Faculty of Medicine 

The selection for the First Year students for the 2020 Academic Year for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme is yet to be done. In keeping with NUST values of pursuing academic excellence with integrity, honesty and ethical behaviour, the selection process is done above board and in compliance with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (MDPCZ) and World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Basic Medical Education WFME Global Standards for Quality Improvement of 2015, which Zimbabwe is a signatory of. For the benefit of prospective students, their parents/guardians and other key stakeholders, the selection process is explained further below in this communication. 

All other Faculties 

The selection for the First Year Undergraduate students in the Faculties of Applied Sciences, Engineering, Commerce, Communication and Information Science, Built Environment and Science and Technology Education were done but there are some issues that need to be addressed emanating from changes in the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Advanced Level curricular. Our computerised system did not recognise some new ZIMSEC subjects resulting in prospective students with the required entry subjects and points receiving rejection in their portals. Also, the list of prospective students for Parallel and Block Release programmes is yet to be published. The University is working on all inquiries and will publish a final list of selected students as soon as possible. We would like to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

Postgraduate programmes, Special and Mature entry 

The selection of prospective students for all postgraduate programmes as well as Special and Mature entry candidates have not been done. As usual, successful candidates will receive offer letters direct from Admissions and Student Records Office. We are appealing to the prospective students, parents/guardians and other stakeholders to bear with us as we process the applications. 

Selection process for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) 

We wish to enlighten prospective students, their parents/guardians and other key stakeholders on the selection process for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

1. Applicants shall submit an application form to the Admissions and Student Records Office after payment of the prescribed application fee.
2. An initial selection of applicants who would have selected the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degree is done using the Navision system.
3. The Admissions and Student Records Office forwards the list of Navision selected applicants together with application forms to the Faculty of Medicine.
4. A Selection Committee screens the candidates eligible for interviews, as recommended by the WFME. The Committee screens on the basis of appropriate required subjects, which are Chemistry (mandatory and prospective students are expected to have an A grade) and any two of the following – Biology, Physics and Mathematics. The selection Committee considers Chemistry and any best two of Biology, Physics and Mathematics giving a maximum of 15 points. For gender balance the minimum points required for female prospective students is 13 points while for male students is 14 points.
5. The Selection Committee will comprise the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, 4 representatives each from the preclinical and clinicalbdepartments and a representative of the Admissions and Student Records as an observer.
6. The Faculty of Medicine conducts background check-up of eligible candidates with their former schools and provides evidence thereof. Any potential students with negative background are not eligible.
7. The Faculty of Medicine will invite eligible candidates for interviews using contact details provided in the application form. The interviews are split into two days as follows: (a) First day will be a written Examination comprising of 25 multiple choice questions (MCQ). (b) Second day will be an oral interview comprising 10 questions.
8. Each of the interviewing panels will comprise of one representative each from the clinical and preclinical disciplines. The Pro-Vice Chancellor – Research and Academic Affairs or his representative will attend the interviews as an observer.
9. After the interviews the Faculty of Medicine forwards to the Admissions and Students Records Office a list of the first 25 selected candidates, a list of those candidates on the reserve list and a list of unsuccessful candidates together with evidence of the basis of scores.
10. The Admissions and Student Records Office will issue offer letters to selected candidates with a deadline for accepting the offer.
11. Admissions and Student Records Office will inform the Faculty of Medicine of the candidates who would have not accepted the offer after the deadline.
12. The Senior Assistant Registrar of the Faculty of Medicine will contact the candidates on the reserve list in order of ranking, starting with the highest.
13. The Senior Assistant Registrar in the Faculty of Medicine should provide evidence of contact with the candidates who would have declined to take up the offer.
14. The next placed candidate on the reserve list shall be offered the place.
15. The information on the candidate(s) offered a place shall be submitted to the Admissions and Student Records Office.
16. Registration before the commencement of lectures shall be preceded by the verification of students’ certificates by the Admissions and Student Records Office.
17. The Faculty is mandated to comply with the recommended intake capacity of 25 students as guided by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (MDPCZ). 

Phiri Acting Registrar