The Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) held its inaugural graduation ceremony in style on Thursday 13 October 2022 at the Fernhill, Main Campus in Mutare.The celebration of the first academic fruits kicked off with the installation of The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E D Mnangagwa as the Chancellor of MSUAS.

The ceremony also saw the installation of Professor Albert Chawanda as the founding Vice-Chancellor of MSUAS. Amongst the 114 graduands conferred with various degrees and awards by the Chancellor of MSUAS, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa were students from the Faculties of Applied Science and Technology, Agribusiness and Commerce, Engineering and Applied Social Sciences. Of the total number of students who graduated, 44 % were females, and also 60 % of the total graduands are in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. On a sombre note, one student graduated posthumously.

Presenting the graduands to the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Albert Chawanda said, “I am proud to now present to you 114 graduands for conferment of various undergraduate degrees carefully skilled to contribute in real terms to national development as Mining and Mineral Processing Engineers, Statisticians, Computer Scientists, Business experts, including Accountants, Tourism and Hospitality Specialists, Human Resource Management Specialists, and Agribusiness Specialists.”

The University has made a deliberate effort to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the national vision of, Creating an Upper-Middle Income Economy by 2030, through pursuing and operationalizing heritage-based Education 5.0. After the graduation ceremony, the Chancellor further officially opened three recently completed buildings comprising the Student Service Centre, Health Service Centre and Lecture block. Furthermore, the Chancellor also presided over the Laying of the Foundation Stone of Students’ Halls of Residence.

Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Prof. (dr) A. Murwira, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology Development, Honourable Senator Cde N Matsikenyere, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province, Dr B Mudavanhu, the Chairman of MSUAS Council, Prof. Emeritus N.M. Bhebe, the Chairman of Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education, various Vice-Chancellors and senior academics from across the tertiary education fraternity and senior government officials.