NUST Soltrain, a project of the Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering won a bronze medal award in the Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Energy (WASHen) conference  at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds. 

The annual WASHen 2018 Conference, organized by the ZITF Company is a two day event that allows business executives, academia, labour and civil society organizations in the Environment and Waste Management industry to discuss challenges facing Zimbabwe. The conference also gives attendants a platform to propose innovative solutions to counter these challenges, thereby fostering economic growth. 

The theme for this years’ exhibition was ‘Catalysing Socio-Economic Transformation through Wash Synergies’. The main highlight of this year’s event was the inaugural Climate Change conference which emphasized the need for action to mitigate climate change and its global challenges.

 Eng. S. Mhlanga, B. Sarema, A. Mkandla and G. Munhuwamhambo represented NUST in showcasing the Solar Thermal Mobile Training Unit (SOLTRAIN). The SOLTRAIN was towed to the venue on the 14th of November in readiness for the exhibition. The solar water heating and PV system on the trailer justified its relevance to the theme of the exhibition. 

According to Eng. Mhlanga, the event went well with exhibitors explaining key concepts on the need to harness renewable energy technology. He added that the professional contact and enthusiasm by the team did not go unnoticed as the team did not only scoop a medal but also received uplifting comments from the judges. They were encouraged to venture into manufacturing and installation of the solar water heating and photovoltaic units. 

Speakers during the event included Energy and Power Development permanent Secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo, Renewable Energy Association of Zimbabwe (REAZ) Chairman Mr Isaiah Nyakusendwa as well as senior representatives from the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe, ZESA and Distributed Power Africa, among others.

The #SANBioLabHack2018 took place in Pretoria, South Africa, this week with 17 undergraduate students coming together to turn their passion for innovation by addressing afro-centric solutions to common lab issues.

The 2nd place winning team from the Zimbabwe National University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) Young Inventors Club impressed the judges with their low-cost PCR machine, which is also known as a Thermocycler that is commonly used to amplify segments of DNA.

Aimed to bring the ideas and ideology of the open hardware movement to the African education community, LabHack opens up opportunities for equipping labs in novel and sustainable fashions by facilitating the open design of key laboratory equipment.

When asked what inspired their prototype, Team Zimbabwe captain and NUST Electronics Engineering student Clifford Mutsave said the team wanted to live up to their name, Young Inventors.

According to the team, the best centre in Zimbabwe only has two PCR machines mainly because they are very expensive. 

The cheapest PCR machines on the market cost in the range of forty thousand US dollars and are thus often unaffordable by the institutions offering science and technology education, resulting in students lacking a practical exposure to how these kinds of equipment are operated. 

“In high school we were also victims of theoretical lessons on how to operate the lab equipment, resulting in a lack of overall appreciation on how to use these pieces of equipment. As NUST students who have their country at heart – especially young scientists in the high schools –  we have come with a design of a low cost and economic yet effective PCR machine,” Mutsave states.

Mutsave’s team also included Applied Chemistry student, Miriam Guni – the only female participant in the group – and Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering students Ropafadzo Manyuchi and Nakai Mashamba. 

The team were also accompanied by their mentors, Nigel Nyathi, Givemore Kanyemba along with Tafadzwa Banga who is the founder and president of a non-profit organisation Young Inventors from NUST.
Young Inventors was established in 2017 after getting support from the Yali organisation with the idea to give innovative African youths the platform to engage in shaping their communities.

“As an organisation, we want to ensure that youths who are innovative get recognition as much as those in the academic sector do. It has been a trend for the past in Africa, Zimbabwe specifically, that a child who excels in academics is considered to be more important than others whilst those who are innovative are not so much appreciated. As of now we have managed to establish a club at NUST and what we seek is to break departmental barriers by allowing students from different departments to work together. Winning this award is just the beginning of more great things to come,” Banga said.

The LabHack model was first piloted in Zimbabwe and conceived by University of Oxford researchers, Dr Louise Bezuidenhout and Helena Webb with the intention to be a competitive and educational event where multidisciplinary teams of students compete around three challenges to build low-cost laboratory equipment.

The South African edition of LabHack was supported and hosted by SANBio / BioFISA II Programme which is a shared biosciences research development and innovation platform for working collaboratively to address some of Southern Africa’s key biosciences issues in health, nutrition and health-related intervention areas

SOURCE: SANBIO

Applications are invited for the following posts: -

TECHNICIAN (1 POST)

Department of Electronic Engineering

Applicants must have a relevant Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering or equivalent and 1 year post qualification experience or a Higher National Diploma in Electronic Engineering and 2 years post qualification experience.  Applicants should have experience in Hardware Maintenance, Network Administration, Maintenance and Software Installation and repairing other related gadgets. The duties of the incumbent will involve assisting in the Microprocessors Laboratory and Computer Engineering Laboratory, assisting Staff and Students with Maintenance, Inventory Creation and Updates. 

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Medical Aid, Leave and Pension Benefits are offered.  The information on salary and other benefits will be made available to the short-listed candidates. 

APPLICATIONS

Six (6) copies of each of the following documents:- application letter, Curriculum Vitae (giving full personal particulars of applicant including full name, place and date of birth, qualifications, employment and experience, present salary, addresses and telephone numbers of three referees) and certified copies of certificates should be sent to:-

The Senior Assistant Registrar

Human Resources Department

National University of Science and Technology

P O Box AC 939

Ascot

Bulawayo

Zimbabwe

Tel. No. 263-9-289265/289435/289456/282842

Fax. No.  263-9-286803

The closing date for the receipt of applications is Friday 23 November, 2018.  ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED

President Emmerson Mnangagwa capped 2 507 graduates and was installed the Chancellor of  NUST in a graduation ceremony on Friday the 9^th of November. The ceremony also saw the installation of Prof. Eng. Mqhele Dlodlo as the fourth Vice-Chancellor.

President Mnangagwa stated that the National University of Science and Technology has a clear mandate to spearhead the development of human capital for industrial and socio-economic transformation through science and technology based solutions. He added that the university was established to be the epicentre of science and technology cadreship in the country.

He encouraged the university to rise to the occasion of its statutory obligation by continuously churning out graduates with skills and knowledge which can positively transform the economic, scientific and technological landscape of Zimbabwe by 2030.

“I encourage NUST not to deviate from its mandate as it is the bedrock for new business models, innovation and technology. The university must appropriately respond to regional and global developments coupled with our present national focus of developing new learning modules,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa congratulated the graduands on their achievements and encouraged them to be employment and wealth creators as well as dispensers of knowledge.

 “As Chancellor I call upon graduands to pursue endeavours which probably contribute to the socio-economic transformation agenda in our country. You have been academically empowered with knowledge and skills to adequately play your part in building the Second Republic, the President said.

 According to the President the recent launch of the Zimbabwe National Space Agency and discovery of oil and gas deposits must motivate institutions of higher learning to expand our country’s skill base in the associated fields

He challenged institutions to make cutting edge breakthroughs arising from such opportunities and to always seek education with production and economic development in mind.

In his address Prof. Eng. Mqhele Dlodlo said the university was ready to accelerate partnerships with industry and public sector to bring back economic freedom for the nation.

“We’re committed to continue finding new solutions that are globally incomparable yet locally relevant and appropriate. The opportunities are mind boggling,” Prof. Eng Dlodlo said.

According to the Vice-Chancellor NUST is not just open for business but it’s already in business, producing market ready products of the highest quality fit for purpose. The university also produces well educated minds and solutions.

Among notable figures that attended the ceremony was the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube, Ambassadors from Cuba, Nigeria and South Sudan

SQUAD NUMBERS

SOCCER

• Men- 36 Students and 36 staff
• Women- 18 students and 18 staff

Netball

• Women- 14 Students and 14 staff
• Coaches- 2

Volleyball

• Men- 12 staff and 12 students
• Women-12 staff and 12 students

Tug of war

• Men- 8 students and 8 staff
• Women- 2 students and 2 staff

Chess

• Men- 2 students and 2 staff
• Women-2 students and 2 staff

Table tennis

• Men- 3 students and 3 staff
• Women- 2 students and 2 staff

Darts

• Men- 6 students and 6 staff
• Women-6 students and 6 staff

Athletics

• 100m Race
• Men- 3 students and 3 staff
• Women-3 students and 3 staff

200m Race

• Men- 3 students and 3 staff
• Women- 3 students and 3 staff

4*100m Relay

• Men- 4 students and 4 staff
• Women-4 students and 4 staff

4*400m Relay

• Men- 4 students and 4 staff
• Women- 4 students and 4 staff

Walk race(400m) for 50 years and above

• Men- 10
• Women-10

100kgs and above 100m walk race

• T-shirts will be given to the 1^st 3 men and 3 women

Paralympic Race

• 10 people include both genders.

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS = 340.

CONFERENCE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO A DATE YET TO BE MADE KNOWN

Theme: Physics for sustainable development

Dates: 19-21 August 2019

Sub-themes

• Renewable Energy
• Physics Education
• Material Science
• Optics and Photonics
• Medical Physics
• Geophysics
• Electronics and Instrumentation
• Astrophysics

Visit our Conference website

ARCHITECTURAL students won a competition to design the Zimbabwe Pavilion at the Dubai 2020 World Expo. They secured this prestigious national project after shrugging off stiff competition from other tertiary institutions.

Dubai 2020 is part of the World Expo held every 5 years in different parts of the world. This edition of the Expo requires a total design of pavilion buildings from the ground up to be used for showcasing purposes. Different nations will compete for the most outstanding or memorable structure.

This expo will run under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ which offers creativity, innovation globally. It is underpinned by three subthemes namely “opportunity, sustainability and mobility’. These themes were seen as fundamental in addressing the most pressing global issues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology hosted this competition where students were required to design the Zimbabwe pavilion based on the expo’s theme. NUST came first scooping a first prize of $4000 against designs from Bulawayo, Harare and Mutare Polytechnics. Their model will be further refined and conceptualised at the Dubai 2020 Expo.

According to Dalubuhle Moyo, from the NUST winning team, the competition was quite challenging because other team members are on attachment in different parts of Zimbabwe. The team endured a number of sleepless nights while having to communicate via Skype or emails.

“On an academic level the competition was an eye opener as it helped us put into practise the theories we learn throughout our courses,” Moyo said.

Mr. C. Manyepa a lecturer, from the Architecture department, who was one of the mentors for this competition said the students who represented NUST in this competition were chosen based on merit as well as gender balance. He added that though all students were assigned mentors, they were responsible for generating their own ideas.  

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eng. Mqhele Dlodlo speaking during the luncheon to congratulate the students emphasized that these students have placed a challenge for their fellow university mates. He was excited to note that these students have also placed the university on the world map.

Prof. Eng Dlodlo said, “Our Architecture Department has not only done us proud in this competition but has a collection of accolades recognizing their exceptional talents and skills, especially for designing exhibition stands.”

The Architecture students are yet to modify their project for their final execution at the Expo. The Dubai 2020 Expo aims not only to showcase global innovations but to also engage the global community through networking and sharing of ideas.

Ropofadzo Mataruse who is also part of the team said she was excited to represent NUST in the world’s best city of architecture. She stated that she looks forward to working with her team and planning more creative designs in preparation for the actual construction of their project.

TWO Publishing students officially launched their first book titled “The Curse of Red Bottom Heels.” The book launch was held in the Council Chambers on the 17^th of October.

 The ‘Curse of Red Bottom Heels’ is a fictional story based on real life troubles faced by two female students during their university life. The book explores the lifestyle chosen by these students due to financial troubles and the urge to live a lavish life.

 The authors who are part of Zimbabwe Academic and Non-fiction writers Association stated that they used the book as a medium for addressing real life socio-economic issues. According to Mr. Ndabezinhle Mpofu the book also addresses adultery in marriages and consequences faced.

 He added that they faced difficulties while writing the book as they initially pondered the book idea in 2016. However, on their industrial attachment year they made efforts to complete the book as they used the time to share ideas and compile the chapters.

 “The whole experience was exciting because you learn new things when you are writing,” Mpofu said.

Ms Fikile Nyathi also added that writing the book was a long journey and there were times when they’d feel like giving up but they helped each other to finally finish the book.

 The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eng. Mqhele Dlodlo applauded the authors for their determination to write and finish a book while they battled with school work. He advised them keep up their momentum and continue writing more books even in different languages.

Dr. Ndabezinhle Dlodlo, a lecturer in the Publishing Department, became an outstanding contender who bought the first copy of the book for $250 along who matched his amount for a similar signed copy. Authors present at the launch had signed the copy which was auctioned for sale.

Dr. Dlodlo, stated that when the Department of Publishing studies was created in 2008 the main objective of the programme was to train a cadet of professionals that would cope with freelance editing and design in a digital era. He said that he was proud of the authors who went beyond the departments expectations by creatively and skilfully writing a book while they were still studying for their degrees.