THE University of Zimbabwe (UZ), has set itself a target of being ranked among the best 10 universities in Africa by year 2017, Vice-Chancellor Levi Nyagura has said.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
In his remarks during the graduation ceremony for 3 451 students yesterday, Nyagura said he was also expecting about 90% of the academic staff at the college to have attained PhDs by the same year.
“It is our goal to be among the top 10 best universities on the African continent by the year 2017,” he said.
UZ is presently ranked 41st.
“We are focusing on the right things to attain our best goal. I expect 90% of the academic staff to be in possession of PhD qualifications by 2017. I expect the research output to be more than 10 times the current impressive output,” Nyagura said.
“I expect the university to register over 10 patents annually. I expect our PhD graduate output to go up five times on the 2015 figure. I expect the university to have perfected its development of precision agriculture. I expect to have recreated the whole university to meet the standards of a top 21st century university.”
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The university has faced many challenges since its formation 60 years ago particularly in the last decade during the hyperinflation era, where most of the infrastructure was run down.
There have been numerous efforts to turn around the learning institution, but funding has been a major challenge.
Nyagura said they have resolved to infuse quality assurance mechanisms into their business activities to guarantee high quality teaching, learning, research, extension and advisory services.
President Robert Mugabe conferred 3 451 graduands, comprising 2 812 undergraduates, 602 taught masters graduands and 18 master of philosophy graduands. 14 doctors of philosophy, 91 medical doctors, seven dental doctors, 50 pharmacists and 136 lawyers among others.
