“What's MY Risk?”

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INTRODUCTION Universities in Zimbabwe December, January and February are difficult months for families that have Teens who are waiting for their results for public examinations, be they Grade 7, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level. More so for parents whose Teens want to further their studies in University, given the changes that come with moving from high school to University. Many considerations are to be had, including the ones considered below.

Cost of University The first is the cost of funding University fees. Below is a table that illustrates the cost of University tuition fees in Zimbabwe for various degree programmes, bef0re administrative, residence and other fees are included. Please click on the links below to view the full fee structures of each University.

This is the list of the Universities in UZ MSU NUST GZU ZEGU Zimbabwe: LLB 350 572 - 681 700 1. Africa University (AU) COMMERCE 350 572 350 601 650 2. Bindura State University (BUSE) ARTS 350 572 - 601 650 3. Catholic University ENGINEERING 400 622 400 701 - 4. Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) 5. Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Zimbabwean Teens do look to go to University in other countries such 6. Gwanda State University as South Africa, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, just to 7. Lupane State University (LSU) mention a few. The cost of University fees in Zimbabwe pales in comparison 8. Midlands State University to the cost in those countries. Taken together with visa application fees, (MSU) medical insurance, accommodation, and travel to and from University for 4 or 9. National University of Science and Technology (NUST) 5 or 6 years, many parents find themselves in dire straits when a decision has 10. Reformed Church Univeristy to be made on where their Teen should go to University. To compound the 11. Solusi University (Solusi) cost are the challenges that come with actual payment of the fees in the current 12. University of Zimbabwe (UZ) economic environment that is marked by foreign currency shortages. 13. Women’s University in Africa (WUA) Funding University Fees 14. Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) Once the a decision is made on where the Teen should go, parents then need 15. Zimbabwe Open University to come up with a sustainable way to pay University fees. The options include (ZOU) self-funding, selling valuable assets, or acquiring a loan from the bank. All this

must be taken together with the needs of other siblings, including their hopes to also attend University.

© Culture Shock Trust 2016 “The Talk” Before Teens leave for University, most parents choose to sit them down and have a chat with them about the changes they will encounter in University. Topics that could be discussed are academic performance, change of interests in the chosen field of study, and the importance of remaining focussed on one’s studies. Parents could also discuss social challenges such as the dangers of drug and alcohol use, 23 to 25 March 2017 pre-marital sex, pregnancy, STI infection including HIV and unbridled social Hellenic Sports Club, media use, among other things. Eastlea, Harare In Zimbabwe, there are Adjusting to life on University Campus currently 15 Universities, 9 Polytechnics, 4 Industrial When a student finally makes it to University, there is need to adjust to life on Training Centres, 12 Teachers campus. The number of subjects increases from three or four to at least six, the Colleges and over 20 private number of students in the lectures increase from at least 20 to over 70, and the colleges. Even though an former most senior students in high school become the youngest on campus. This increasing number of is compounded by the stark reality of exposure to numerous social challenges on Zimbabwean high school leavers choose to study abroad, there a larger scale, which is unlike the protected high school environment. New remains a significant number University students inevitably encounter financial predicaments due to a changed who further their studies in the cost of living attributed not only to an increase in required textbooks, but also country. It is therefore basic needs to cover living expenses especially for those students staying away important for Zimbabwean from home. Were these finances pose a serious strain, some students tend to turn higher education institutions to to other means of financial security, most of which are short term, self-destructive engage in marketing activities and can lead to their exploitation. targeting senior high school learners. Culture Shock Trust How to deal with failure presents such opportunity through the “My Zim An unexpected outcome of the first year of University is academic failure and the University | College ZimEd risk of academic exclusion. As institutions of higher learning, Universities have Expo”, to be held at the very high expectations of students in academic performance. First year of Hellenic Sports Club, Eastlea, University may be overwhelming, given the increase in the number of subjects Harare from 23 to 25 March from three to at least six with the added assignments and frequency of tests. It is 2017. The “My Zim important for students to understand the need to work hard and put in extra University | College ZimEd hours of studying in University. Expo” is an annual educational exhibition fair that serves as a Life after University platform for higher education institutions in Zimbabwe to The current economic environment in Zimbabwe is disheartening: there are showcase their academic many educated people, but very few jobs. More so, not all educated people are programmes to prospective entrepreneurs who can begin and run their own businesses. It should not come students. This highly interactive as a surprise when high school students do not aspire to further their studies in event provides information to University. For those students who go to University, the majority are not high school students on what interested in beginning their professional careers in Zimbabwe, leading to the each educational institution well-known phenomenon of brain drain of the country. These are all sad realities offers, the expectations of the students and the role of the that can be changed incrementally by cultivating a solution driven culture where different stakeholders in the each student begins to see himself/ herself as part of the solution for Zimbabwe. tertiary education sector. SURVEY FOR PARENTS Conclusion Do you know what your son/ “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” daughter’s aspirations are for Nelson Mandela. Furthering studies after high school is vital, so as to not only University? Please take our survey change the world, but also secure the future of the individual student, despite for Parents on this LINK daunting tuition fees, increased subjects and change of environment.

PROFESSOR PRIMROSE KURASHA Ph.D (Potchefstroom, SA), MBA (Bridgeport, USA), BBS (Hons) UZ and Cert. Dist. Ed. Pract (UNISA) Passed away at 58 on 17 February 2017

Current Previous  Vice Chancellor, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU)  Chairperson of Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA),  First female Vice Chancellor in Zimbabwe since 2003  Chairperson of the Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellors Association  President of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) (ZUVCA)  Chairperson of the Southern African Regional Universities Association  Executive Board Member on the African Council for Distance Education (SARUA) (ACDE),  Chairperson of the UNESCO-funded UNITWIN Project  Executive Member, SADC-ODL Project Steering Committee

Awards Top Vice Chancellor of the Year 2015, Outstanding Leadership in Higher and Tertiary Education 2015, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Business Woman of the Year 2015, Leadership for Quality Management 2015, Outstanding Woman in Higher and Tertiary Education 2014