23 Sept 2019 Vol. 06 TheMUAST Weekly MUAST AND SIGN AN MOU

Dr Chikwana (left), Prof Nyamangara (centre) and MKU staff during the MKU visit MARONDERA University of Agricultural Sciences Naison Ngoma. The Vice Chancellor and his team and Technology (MUAST) signed a Memorandum was welcomed by a Copperbelt University delegation of Understanding for the Development of Academic that also highlighted that it was prudent for MUAST Cooperation with Mukuba University (MKU) on the to also partner the Copperbelt University School of 5th of September 2019 in . Natural Resources. After meeting the Copperbelt delegation, the team also toured the Copperbelt MUAST Vice Chancellor, Professor Justice University School of Natural Resources and the Nyamangara, Dr Denice Chikwanda the Acting indigenous trees propagation centre. Business Development Manager, Mr Chenjerai Muchenje, the Director of Marketing, Public and The team then proceeded to the Mukuba University International Relations made up the team that went campus for the Memorandum of Understanding to Zambia. Prof Florence Tailoka, the Head of signing ceremony. The two heads of institutions Studies and Mr Mwala Sheba, the Acting Registrar expressed optimism in the Memorandum of signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Understanding. The MUAST team then toured behalf of the Mukuba University. Mukuba University offices, student accommodation facilities, lecture rooms and the Library. The two institutions are exploring future collaborative opportunities in teaching, research, The team also had an opportunity to visit Chimfunshi staff and student exchange. In light of this Chimpanzee Orphanage in Solwezi, 130 kilometres Memorandum, the two young institutions intend from . Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust to offer joint Undergraduate and Postgraduate is one of the largest chimpanzee reserves in the world programs to support each other. and is internationally recognized. Chimfunshi is home to 138 chimpanzees. Mukuba University is under the management The Mukuba University management concluded the of the Copperbelt University and during this MUAST team visit with a dinner that was attended by visit the MUAST team paid a courtesy call to the Mukuba University and Copperbelt University staff Copperbelt University Vice Chancellor, Professor members. As the semester progresses, the air is filled with 2019 SECOND SEMESTER excitement as friends old and new come togeth- er in an environment that fosters intellectual IN PROGRESS curiosity and personal growth. MUAST’s vision “to be a leading global centre of excellence in the provision of technology driven sustaina- ble green agricultural solution,” where every student would meet the challenges of the day equipped with an education designed to intel- lectually prepare the “head, hand, and heart” continues every day.

MUAST students are here to achieve their Students sit attentively during a lecture dreams and to turn their goals into reality. THE month of August welcomed the beginning of a new The MUAST dedicated staff’s job as educators, semester! It is that time of the year filled with energy administrators, and supporters is to help them and enthusiasm. Students and University staff return to become their best selves. Academic staff are campus and a new cohort of freshmen joins the Maron- always encouraged not to forget those who dera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology helped them become the men and women they (MUAST) family. are today but support, encourage, and uplift our students. DR MACHEKA CONTRIBUTES AT THE INREF INCEPTION WORKSHOP

Doctor Lesley Macheka and other delegatesat at the INREF workshop DR LESLEY MACHEKA was among the The INREF programme is a development Zimbabwean team which attended the oriented PhD research programme of the Interdisciplinary Research and Education Fund Wageningen University which is formed (INREF) workshop from the 20th to the 31st of by multi-annual research programmes August 2019 held in Chisamba and Lusaka, Zambia. in which various Wageningen Graduate Schools, international and national research The workshop was an inception meeting to a institutions participate. collaborative research project lead by Professor Sijmen Schoustra that was awarded a 1.2 million The funded project is titled, Traditional Euro research grant by the Interdisciplinary fermented foods to promote food Research and Education Fund (INREF), Wageningen and nutrition security in Africa. University and Research. Entrepreneurship, value chains, product development and microbial ecology in Zambia, and Benin. The project has The Workshop was hosted by the Faculty four partners that include Université d’Abomey- of Economic and Management Sciences at Calavi (Benin), Wageningen University and the University of Pretoria to ensure research Research (Netherlands), collaborations in Africa. (Zambia) and Chinhoyi University of Technology The Research Workshop on Social (Zimbabwe). Technical partners include the Food Entrepreneurship in Africa was an important and Nutrition Council of Zimbabwe, Government initiative towards the mission to strengthening Analyst and Harvest Plus. the academic eco-system for social The workshop assisted to plan for the project entrepreneurship as a catalyst to job creation in activities for the four participating countries. Africa. Several presentations and discussions gave an overview on the importance of traditional The workshop brought together social fermented foods to promote food and nutrition entrepreneurship scholars from Africa and security in Africa. The presentations also enabled the world to crystallise research topics, all participants and project members to appreciate collaborations and to offer opportunities for the importance of the project. the development of the research profile of academics. The project is anchored around three pillars of The workshop assembled a team of faculty research: Food technology, Microbial ecology experts in various fields of management to join and Business development/entrepreneurship. in facilitating and reviewing PhD and early- The project will be implemented through six career research papers or research projects PhD projects, two in each country. In Zimbabwe, in order to improve the used theory and the two PhD projects will be hosted at Chinhoyi methodology. University of Technology and Dr Macheka will affiliate in one the projects. The objectives were to enable the formation of research collaborations, offer a conducive environment to the exchange of ideas and DR CLEVER GUMBO ATTENDS expertise with the aim of improving existing A RESEARCH WORKSHOP AT research project concepts and facilitate the THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA emergence of new research projects. DR CLEVER GUMBO participated at a Research Workshop entitled: Africa Network for Social Entrepreneurship Scholars (ANSES) from the 14th to the 16th of August 2019 at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Published by: Dr Gumbo, representing Marondera University of Marondera University of Agricultural Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST) Sciences and Technology presented on descriptions of the Base of pyramid Marketing Public and International markets, mutual value creation, cross-sector Relations Department partnerships, incorporating a triple-bottom-line Direct line: +263 8644 279 408 impact and the negative consequences of BOP Cell: +263 (0)773 593 581 initiatives on communities. Website: www.muast.ac.zw Email: This was the first Research Workshop on Social Entrepreneurship in Africa organised [email protected] by the Unit for Social Entrepreneurship at the [email protected] University of Pretoria and the African Network for Social Entrepreneurship Scholars (ANSES).