The Midlands State University (MSU) intends to introduce 170 new degree programmes in a bid to make the MSU graduates relevant and competitive.
The MSU has since tabled the new degree programmes to the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) led by peer reviewers for possible accreditation.
The ZIMCHE-led peer reviewers are on a week-long visit at MSU to review the proposed new degree programmes.
The 170 proposed new programmes by MSU have not yet been revealed and will be made public once they have been accredited by ZIMCHE. MSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Victor Muzvidziwa said:
We have over 170 programmes that you are here to review and accredit. They represent our response to the needs of Education 5.0, the national critical skills audit of 2018, Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy (NDS 1).
… Futuristic degrees will make MSU graduates relevant, competitive, employable and useful in the future.
In his remarks before starting the review process, ZIMCHE chief executive officer Professor Kuzvinetsa Nzvimbo said it was important for the MSU to ensure the highest quality standards of education as the institution has the largest student population in the country. He said:
This institution has got such large numbers of students which means that you have a big piece of the pie in terms of training human resources that are required for this country.
This is why those of us in Zimche watch what you do at this institution with a hawk’s eye because your piece of the pie is very big.
MSU has an enrolment of over 23 000 students at its campuses in Gweru, Zvishavane and Harare.