National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1991 |
| Chancellor | Robert Mugabe ex officio as President of Zimbabwe |
| Vice-Chancellor | Lindela Ndlovu |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.nust.ac.zw |
About NUST
NUST is a young and progressive university established by an Act of the Zimbabwe Parliament in 1991. Using English as the language of instruction, NUST provides an invigorating intellectual climate, which fosters an academic community where both staff and students can push back the frontiers of knowledge in science and technology. As such NUST is a center of research, and has ties with universities on the African continent as well as the world. NUST is located in the warm and friendly City of Bulawayo, South West of Zimbabwe.
NUST Historical Background
The idea of a Second University in Zimbabwe rose in June 1982, in the Report of the University of Zimbabwe, Vice Chancellor's committee of Inquiry into that University's high failure rates in 1980 and 1981. Not until late 1987 did the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Professor W. J. Kamba discuss with his colleagues the necessity of approaching Government about setting up a feasibility study of a second university/campus. As a result of this discussion a recommendation was made to the then Minister of Education, Dr Dzingai Mutumbuka that a Commission be set up to look into the question of a second institution of higher education in Zimbabwe.
The Commission presented its report to the President on 1 February 1989. Its major conclusion was that, on the basis of manpower requirements for economic growth and of the increasing number of well qualified `A' level school leavers, University expansion "is not only justified: it is also a necessity". It recommended that a "Second University should be established with a Science and Technology bias", and that the University "be located in Bulawayo and should admit its first students in 1993".
After considering the report of the Commission, the Government of Zimbabwe decided to accept all the recommendations contained therein except the one relating to the timing of the first intake of students. Instead of 1993 the government decided that the University should open its "doors" to the first intake of students in May 1991.
However, there was a delay in taking steps for the actual implementation of the commission's report. It was not until late 1989 that a committee was formed by the Ministry of Higher Education to make a first draft of the new University's enabling legislation. The final draft Bill was presented to the Zimbabwe Parliament by the then Minister of Higher Education, David Karimanzira on 24 October 1990. It was piloted through Parliament together with a Bill amending the 1982 University of Zimbabwe Act. The effect was to make the Acts of the two universities virtually identical
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The name "National University of Science and Technology (NUST)" was adopted for the New University in Bulawayo. Meanwhile, even before the new University Bill was presented to Parliament the Minister of Higher Education had constituted the foundation Committee of the then proposed National University of Science and Technology.
In spite of numerous rather frustrating delays resulting from the launching of the Foundation Committee before the enabling Act had been promulgated, the long gap between the presentation of the Bill to Parliament in October 1990 and its Publication in December 1990, the lack of financial and budgetary provisions for the work of the Committee and the protracted negotiations with Treasury emanating from this, the Foundation Committee managed to meet the deadline set by the Minister of Higher Education at the launching ceremony. The Committee managed to arrange for the first intake of students into NUST to take place in April 1991.
The Committee further decided that for the 1991 academic year the University should offer first year teaching in the Faculties of Commerce, Industrial Technology and Applied Sciences. These were chosen mainly because they offered courses that were closest to those offered by the University of Zimbabwe through its Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) programme at the Bulawayo Polytechnic. This made it possible for NUST to make use of the facilities at the Bulawayo Polytechnic for the benefit of its first year students. B. Tech. staff in Bulawayo were appointed by NUST and the transitional arrangements were satisfactory.
The National University of Science and Technology strives to become a flourishing and reputable institution not only in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa but also among the international fraternity of Universities. Its guidance, cultural values is the encouragement of all its members and society of those attitudes of fair mindedness, understanding, tolerance and respect for people and views essential for the attainment and maintenance of justice, peace and harmony.
On 8 April 1991, NUST opened for the very first time with 270 students in the three Faculties that have already been mentioned. The number of academic staff was 28.
On 19 May 1991, Professor P. M. Makhurane was appointed as the inaugural Vice-Chancellor of the University and soon after that Mr Lameck Sithole and Mr Michael Kariwo were appointed as the first Bursar and first Registrar respectively. Other staff followed and by 1 October 1991, the total numbers of people involved on a full-time basis with what was going on at NUST was as follows:-
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270 students
28 academic staff
41 administrators
11 support staff
On 28 October 1991, the University organized a large public ceremony to instal its first Chancellor,R. G. Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe and its first Vice-Chancellor, Professor Phinias Makhurane, and to lay the institution's Foundation stone. The ceremony was held at the University site where a large and colourful camp had been constructed for the purpose. A separate report on the installation and Foundation laying ceremony has been prepared and all the speeches delivered on that day are included in the report. (available from the information office).
For the 1992/93 academic year the University admitted an additional 300 students into the first year in the three existing faculties viz, Commerce, Applied Science and Industrial Technology. Student numbers grew to over 1200 by 1995. During the same period Academic Staff in post grew to 85.On Saturday 27 May 1995, the University held its first Graduation Ceremony, at which the Doctor of Technology honorary degree was conferred upon the President and Chancellor Cde R.G. Mugabe. Some 163 graduates from the Faculties of Commerce and Applied Sciences were capped. This was indeed a historical event.
On 20 July 1995 the University held its second graduation ceremony, where 281 graduands were capped. The first cohort of graduates from the Faculty of Industrial Technology and the Department of Computer Science were conferred with degrees on that occasion.
A generous donation by the Bulawayo City Council of a site 160 hectares in size and the provision of a capital budget by Government has enabled the first construction phase to begin. The Building programme was initially delayed due to the shortage of water in Bulawayo. Work started in March 1992 when the first contract valued at Z$4,6m was awarded to A. P. Gledinning for the bulk earth works and civil engineering construction for roads. Briefs for the building were completed in May 1992.
In July 1993 the construction programme started with the award of our first contract to Belmont Construction for the Administration Block. A year later, in September 1994 the second contractor, International Construction Zimbabwe started work on the Faculty of Commerce block. In November and December 1994 work also started on the departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering respectively. Construction of the first student hostel began a year later, in September 1995. However, progress on the construction of this building has been hampered by cashflow problems. Work on the Library began in April 1998, followed by the Ceremonial Hall and the Student Services Centre in November of the same year. The University moved to campus on 1 August 1998, to occupy the Faculty of Commerce and Administration Buildings. The first lectures on campus took place in the Faculty of Commerce Building on 17 August 1998. The Medical School at NUST opened in 2005, and has shown itself as good if not better than its counterpart in Harare. The university acknowledges the contributions of all those people who were so ready to render their services either as members of the Sub-Committees or in other capacities
Academic Faculties The National University of Science and Technology is made up of Faculties consisting of different departments. To navigate to each Faculty use the menu to your left. Faculty of Applied Sciences Applied Biology and Biochemistry Applied Chemistry Applied Mathematics Applied Physics Computer Science Environmental Science and Health Forest Resources and Wildlife Operations Research and Statistics Radiography Sport Science And Coaching Faculty of the Built Environment Architecture Quantity Surveying Landscape And Urban Design Faculty of Commerce Accounting Banking Business Management Graduate School of Business Insurance and Actuarial Science Finance Faculty Communication and Information Science Journalism and Media studies Library and Information Science Records and Archives Management Publishing Studies Faculty of Industrial Technology Chemical Engineering Civil and Water Engineering Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Textile Technology Electronic Engineering Faculty of Medicine Division of Basic Medical Science Division of Social Medical Sciences Division of Clinical Practice & Patient Care
Faculty of Education
Technical Teacher Education
Faculty Governance Ordinance
Departmental Governance Ordinance
Vice Chancellor's Office Professor L. R. Ndlovu was appointed the Vice Chancellor of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) on the fourteenth of October 2005.
The Installation Ceremony which was officiated by the Chancellor, His Excellency Cde R. G. Mugabe was held at the University’s Ceremonial Hall. This marked a very colourful event that was graced by senior government officials and the business community at large.
Lindela becomes the second Vice Chancellor of NUST after succeeding Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane. Prior to his appointment Prof Ndlovu was the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research) since 2001 up until his current appointment.
Environmental Science and Health (ESH)
The department of Environmental Science and health at NUST is one of the best research based programs with the 2012 class of honours including Mr. Venancio Jachi, Mr. Hope Chofamba, Mr. Property Munsaka, Ms. Musa Moyo, Mr. Phakamani Moyo, Mr Prince Nkomo, Mr Farai Nyoni, Ms. Amanda Mugwambi, Ms. Lucious Chengwe and Mr Meluleki Ngwabi, among others. Professor Y. naik is the associate professor of the department and also head of the NUST Research and Innovation department. Ms. Margaret Macherera is the chairperson. Several papers have been published in local and international journals on environmental and ecotoxicological findings under what is known as The Eotoxicology Group with aid from other institutions such as Uppsalla University in Sweden. More information on research at NUST can be obtained here: http://www.nust.ac.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=158&Itemid=277