Welcome aboard Testimonial by Kambasha Teresa Boeing ZOU 2017 t is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this platform where as Ithe Zimbabwe Open University family, we will be able to interact. Welcome aboard Boeing ZOU 2017! I know very well that most of our students and stakeholders have been complaining about our methods of communication in the past, but I am sure your issues have been addressed. As an institution, we have made sure that all our social media sites are up and running and supporting staff is always available to swiftly respond to all your questions as well as giving adequate information about the institution to both students and prospective students. The launching of this official ZOU magazine is just adding icing on the cake. ZOU has for the past years thrived to be the best Open and Distance Learning University in the country while sailing on the same boat with the so-called state universities, and this, the university has done with a distinction. Below is a testimonial now in powerful positions education without having to The vision of the university is shared by a ZOU alumnus at in various countries using attend classes at a physical very clear, it thrives to be a world class support system that provides the Mashonaland Regional ZOU qualifications. This location. A lot of working library and information services in Campus Fundraising university has given us people with the passion to a distance learning environment. Dinner Dance held on 08 new insight. develop their careers have This is one aspect that makes ZOU September 2017 managed to do so through unique from all other universities. Allow me to take you open distance learning. The introduction of platforms like Opening remarks through what my colleagues MyVista, ebooks, ebrary and online and I experienced as we Studying by distance I welcome you all submissions is a clear indication that ZOU studied with this university. learning allowed us always thrives to be at the top with other to Zimbabwe Open to develop our careers outstanding universities in the world. University- one of the Benefits of studying wit without having to leave Ebooks and ebrary gives ZOU finest universities in the h ZOU employment. It also meant students access to relevant online region and beyond that publications and other reading material I, like many others that we could apply new to help them during their studies. provides an opportunity to have found that open knowledge and insights We have to salute the leadership for learn and work at the same coming up with such a noble idea. distance learning comes to our working life which time. When I say I am a with many benefits not is for the benefit of the The MyVista platform seems to former ZOU student, I say be the heart and soul of academic only to the individual organisations. it with pride and confidence operations in the institution as it offers studying, but to the students a lot of options in terms because the university has This is on the job training of operations during their studies. organisations employing helped not only me, but without companies having these individuals and to the From the word go, students can access a lot of us to realise our to pay for the training of their assignment questions, submit country as a whole. assignments online, interact with their dreams. their employees. lecturers, as well as with other students Flexibility on the MyVista platform. It also allows There is a misconception Affordability students to access their fees invoices about distance learning and It doesn’t matter where without even visiting the office, results Open distance learning to be more specific, about you live – you can gain a as well as examinations timetables. is way cheaper than other ZOU. At the Zimbabwe degree from anywhere in This platform puts ZOU on the conventional universities Open University, various the country.We believe world map as Virtual students can because of low overhead have easy access to all their learning prestigious degrees are distance education is costs. material as students can download soft awarded and these are copies of modules from the platform all about convenience recognised nationally and and flexibility. You can Choice Apart from MyVista, ZOU hard internationally. Personally, plan your study around copy printed modules are the best The university offers with other universities jostling to I completed the following your work or lifestyle several courses accredited have a piece of the ZOU module. programmes, MBA and commitments, so you’re by some of the most While this is the first edition of the PGDE with this prestigious only studying at times respected awarding bodies magazine, but the editorial team will be university. These convenient for you. This open to suggestions and contributions. internationally. Students qualifications have met has helped to maintain are also exposed to a lot This is our project, let’s welcome and international standards with high levels of literacy in embrace it. Seat down relax and enjoy of research which sharpen various awarding bodies. the country. In addition, your first edition of the ZOU magazine! stheir research skills. Most of my colleagues are you can improve your 4 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY Professor Alfred Champion Ncube — Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Gabriel Kabanda — Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Daniel Ndudzo — Research, Innovation and Enterprise Registrar Development Mr. Garainesu Shoko — Mr Albert Makurumure — Mr Nephas Mufutumara — Director Finance Director Library And Information Director Information and Services Communication Technology 5 Council Chairperson’s Message Dear ZOU Family: wish to extend my warm greetings and welcome you to the 2017 Second Semester edition of the ZOU Magazine. I This edition provides an in-depth look at significant milestones made possible by the ZOU family’s unwavering passion for our critical mission and our strong willpower to deliver high quality tertiary education. Without question, the vibrancy of the ZOU family, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and business partners is proudly displayed in our operations and prominently captured within these pages. The Zimbabwe Open University has assumed a unique strategic direction that is underpinned by the following five key result areas; • Technology • Research and Innovation • Service quality • Infrastructure development • Resource capability The strategic thrust was deliberately coined to ensure that the University becomes a leading self sustaining higher education Institution, preeminent in research that produces commercially valuable intellectual property. We are required to take a leading role in the reindustrialization of Zimbabwe and we know the expectations of our Government, Industry and other key stakeholders. To that effect, we have re-structured our faculties in an endeavour to enhance our capabilities in teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Arts and Heritage disciplines as expected by Government. Moving forward, the ZOU Council and Management are fully concentrating limitless energies in implementing a comprehensive strategic plan to fulfill the University’s objects. We strive to become an innovative, premier university, preeminent in innovative applied research with impact, excellent in learning and teaching, and committed to local and global community development through sharing of knowledge ZOU has arrived! This Magazine truly serves as a unique opportunity for you to personally experience the triumphant entry of ZOU among leading higher education institutions. With ZOU Pride, Mrs Chipo Mtasa Chairperson, Zimbabwe Open University Council 6 ZOU, Sanyati beef production project kicks off In this picture, which is the second stage, Dr Gomo injects the animal which he found empty with the first injection he Zimba- cows involved in through artifi- Dr Gomo does the first stage of artificial insemination in Sanyati recently. This bwe Open artificial insemina- cial insemination first stage is to check whether the animal is engulfed (pregnant). University tion. The project was conducted in (ZOU) will see ZOU help- Sanyati. The pro- Tin conjunction ing out Sanyati cat- gramme comes with Sanyati cattle tle farmers on how in three stages farmers have com- to introduce and which are assess- bined their efforts use latest technolo- ment of cow preg- in trying to im- gies in animal hus- nancy, injection prove beef produc- bandry. and taking blood tion in the country The director,samples to deter- with more than 50 ZOU Material De- mine any ineffi- farmers taking up velopment Unit, ciencies. The sec- the programme in the Sanyati Area of Mr. Chesterfieldond phase of the Midlands province. Vengesai and also breeding stage is The project, San- a farmer from done after 11 days yati Beef Cattle Sanyati Area, Dean of the first estrates Production and Re- Faculty of Agri- to synchronize all search, a brainchild culture Professor cows in estrates. of ZOU Faculty of Nobbert Takar- The third and fi- Agriculture, was wirwa Ngongoni nal stage will then launched on July and Doctor Calvin be conducted af- 20, 2017 in Sanyati Gomo were the pio- ter 72 hours af- and will run under neers of the project. ter the second four phases with an The programme injection, where The third stage is the marking of an injected animal for the purposes of identifi- estimated number comes in four the artificial in- cation for the next stage of more than 100 phases which are semination will breeding through be done using the artificial insemina- Thuli bull semen tion, training on to improve the routine beef cattle cattle breed. Preg- management, re- nancy diagnosis search in cattle pen for all the cows fattening using sor- that would have ghum and maize as gone through the well as the use of process is done indigenous herbs after 45 days. as replacements to Prof Ngongoni conventional dip- added that the ping chemicals.