The plight of students doing a doctorate degree in Business Administration and African Leadership Development at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) hangs in the balance after the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (Zimche) suspended the programme.
The council suspended the programme recently saying the university was not following set legal requirements.
In a statement, Zimche said: “In terms of Section 17 of the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education Act (Chapter 25:27) read in conjunction with Sections 8 and 9 of the Manpower Development Act, Zimche wishes to inform all stakeholders in Higher Education that the degrees . . . have been suspended until such time that the programmes satisfy the requirements set in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe.”
The statement also added that prospective students were advised not to register or pay fees to the university or any of the consultants. Nust spokesperson Felix Moyo yesterday confirmed the development, but downplayed its impact.
“This is the first time a taught doctorate degree has been offered in the country which is why the quality control unit is conducting a check to supervise the procedure and ensure that everything is correct.” Moyo declined to reveal the number of students registered for the suspended degree.
Section 17 of Zimche states that: “If at any time the Council is satisfied that a public institution of higher education has failed to discharge its functions in terms of the enactment . . . Council may recommend to the Ministry to (a) close the institution or (b) repeal the enactment under which the institution was established.”
Although sources told NewsDay the suspension of the programme was politically-motivated, Moyo denied the allegations.
“Claims of the suspension being the effect of a political conflict are not true, the suspension is simply the result of Zimche and Nust synchronising systems to ensure all is in correct order,” he added.
