ED caps 2900 graduates, Paul Gundani installed as ZOU vice chancellor

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has installed Professor Paul Henry Gundani as the Zimbabwe Open University’s third Vice-Chancellor before capping 2900 graduates at the university’s 17th graduation ceremony in Harare.

The installation preceded the university’s 17th graduation ceremony which was held at the City Sports Centre.

Professor Gundani becomes the third Vice-Chancellor of the Zimbabwe Open University.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony after his installation as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Gundani said the university has embarked on a massive digital transformation initiative which is meant to introduce full-scale electronic learning.

He also highlighted that the university will be introducing a compulsory course on Ethics as a way of complementing the government’s drive to flush out corruption.

Professor Gundani went on to plead with President Mnangagwa to assist the university with funding for its Hatcliffe campus and foreign currency for the acquisition of ICT enabling technologies.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Professor Amon Murwira said the appointment of Professor Gundani would aid the government’s drive towards achieving a middle-income economy by 2030.

Prof Murwira said Profesor Gundani must do more to attract more foreign students to Zimbabwe, adding that the new vice-chancellor must also deliver on his promise to transform ZOU.

ED caps  2900 graduates

President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Friday capped 2 900 graduates at the 17th Zimbabwe open university graduation ceremony in Harare.

Out of the 2 900 graduates conferred with various degrees 1 630 were females,  a figure that Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Gundani said confirms the university’s commitment to empowering women.

At Masters level 280 students graduated and a total of 15 graduates were also awarded Doctorates in Philosophy.

Two graduates were awarded their degrees posthumously after they died in separate car accidents.

Among those who graduated were Econet Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Mboweni, Zimnat Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, South Sudan  Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Deng Boutros Thok and several ZBC personnel including reporter, Tapiwa Machemedze.

The South Sudan Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Boutros Thok said the quality of education in Zimbabwe is top-shelf.