NEWS @ NUST
A newsletter of the National University of Science and Technology
March 2017
INSIDE STORIES
NUST
CELEBRATES
WOMEN P2
NUST
IMPRESSES AT THE
ZUSA GAMES
THE National University of Science and Technology scooped
four gold medals, 8 silver medals and 5 bronze medals at the
Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association (ZUSA) games held in
Bulawayo recently.
The medals are in the following categories; Cricket man and
women, Handball man and women, Hockey man, Volley ball
women and Athletics.
Sports office Administrative Assistant, Sibonile Madhodha, said
that the students are representing the NUST brand at the right
level.
“The students did well now we have to ensure that they prepare
and keep fit for more games coming up” said Madhodha
The students who became gold and silver medalists will
represent the Universities at the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions
Sports Union (ZTISU) games in July.
APPLIED PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT HOSTS
LASER AND OPTICS
WORKSHOP P3
NUST WELLNESS DAY
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ZUSA GAMES
PICTURES P8
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NUST
CELEBRATES
WOMEN
‘‘We need to show
the girl child the
way to greatness, to
fulfill her dreams.
There is need to remove cultural inhibitions and beliefs
that have hindered
so many promising
girls from reaching
the top”
THE National University of Science and Technology
(NUST) hosted Zimbabwe Girl Leadership Summit to
celebrate International Women’s Day as well as the empowerment and sustainable development for the African girl
child.
The Zimbabwe Girl Leadership Summit for 2017 ran under
the theme “Dream Big, Change your World”. It was attended by prefects, class monitors, class representatives from
high schools as well as youth leaders, SRC leaders, and girls
with leadership positions in various organizations.
Officiating at the event, Librarian, MS K Matsika, said that
NUST feels greatly honoured to be the host of such a prestigious event, as NUST is part of an initiative launched by
the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and
Technology which seeks to increase the uptake of Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at the University.
“NUST has been referred to as the “Mother of STEM”, not
the father, it is therefore of significance that the 2017 Zimbabwe Girl Leadership Summit is being held at the Mother
of STEM. Thus, it is quite proper for me as a mother to
invite you to join our happy family at NUST” said Matsika
MS Matsika further encouraged those in attendance to do
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exactly what the theme says, “Dream Big”.
‘We need to show the girl child the way to greatness, to fulfill her dreams. There is need to remove cultural inhibitions
and beliefs that have hindered so many promising girls
from reaching the top” she said.
The guest of Honour at the summit was Lupane State University’s Pro- Vice Chancellor, Dr Nomathemba Ndiweni,
who said that girls and women must be empowered at every
level, in learning and research, from administration to
teaching across all scientific fields.
The summit speakers and facilitators from different walks
of life encouraged the student leaders to be guided by principles and ethics in their leadership endeavors.
“As a leader, it’s the subtle differences that make you stand
out and appealing to your followers, which is down to how
you carry yourself and what you want others to see, the
visible values and beliefs you display openly and what you
stand for” said Nomathemba Ndhlovu a secretary general
for the NUST ladies Society.
Other speakers also persuaded the students to take school
seriously and break boundaries as education is the main
gateway to greatness.
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Laser and optics attendees pose for a photo
APPLIED PHYSICS
DEPARMENT HOSTS LASER AND
OPTICS WORKSHOP
THE Department of Applied Physics in collaboration with
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and
the student chapter of the Africa Laser Centre (ALC) held a
two-day workshop for high school students meant to raise
awareness and create great interest on application of lasers
and optics.
The two representatives from CSIR, Masixole Lugongolo
and Charles Maphanga, focused more on the use of lasers
to optically deliver Antiretroviral drugs into HIV-1 infected cells in a targeted manner using Gaussian beam mode
femtosecond laser pulses in-vitro to completely get rid of
the virus.
“The problem with Antiretroviral therapy (ARV) is that
it is unable to reach the viral reservoirs where the HIV-1
remains latent and persistent. This leads to inability to fully
eradicate the virus. We are working on completely eradicating the virus by using lasers for targeted drug delivery” said
Masixole Lugongolo.
The members of the Applied Physics Department said having CSIR come to NUST to teach students about lasers and
optics is of tremendous effect to the University rankings.
“NUST is the only University in Zimbabwe that offers a
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degree in Lasers and Optics and having the CSIR visit us
is good exposure. High school students get to see what is
happening in other countries as well as understanding the
career opportunities if one pursues the aforementioned
degree” said a teaching assistant in the Applied Physics
Department, Nyasha Suliali.
High school students who attended the workshop said it
was beneficial as they learnt about a lot of stuff they previously did not know.
“I got to know something about lasers and a lot of career opportunities I did not know about. I am doing four
subjects at A level, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and
Biology, and I did not know which career to pursue, I have
developed a sudden interest in Lasers and Optics” said a
student from Sikhulile High School, Millicent Ndou.
The CSIR representatives as well as academic staff members from the Department of Applied Physics also did
numerous experiments such as the transmission of light
through water, Holographic image reconstruction and
white light generation from RGB sources.
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INDUSTRIAL
TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHES
ROYAL ACADEMY OF
ENGINEERING PROGRAM
THE National University of Science and Technology
(NUST)’s Faculty of Industrial Technology (FIT) launched a
project called Enriching Engineering Education Programme
(EEEP). The programme aims at developing and strengthening relationships between academia and industry through
secondment programmes to bridge skill and knowledge
deficiencies.
The programme which is sponsored by the United States
Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) is now on phase two.
Phase one was done at UZ where NUST participated as a
feeder institution.
In an interview, FIT Dean, Engineer Chinyama said that the
project will allow NUST to produce students who will fit in
industry because of additional exposure.
“We are welcome people from industry to come in, be
involved in our teaching and to tell us where they think we
should improve. The project also helps us to host seminars
and workshops. At these workshops, we sit down with industry and other universities to address problems and look for
solutions” said Engineer Chinyama.
Engineer Chinyama further said that working with industry
is also an advantage to industry because industry will benefit
from the products produced at the institution; that is; the
graduates.
Some officials from industry stated that students are well
equipped with theory but they lack linkage to the practical
knowledge of what really happens in industry. Therefore, this
project is also aimed at improving how engineering students
are taught to keep them in the loop about the real engineering world.
Acting Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr Hlatywayo, who officiated
at the event said that it was good to have been awarded the
status of a hub in the RAE project.
“NUST vision is to spearhead human capital development
for industrial and socio-economic transformation through
provision of and technology based solutions. Therefore, we
shall always cherish fostering the links with the industry”
said Dr Hlatywayo.
The Royal Academy of Engineering sponsorship came to
more than $140 000 to NUST for two years.
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INDUSTRIAL
TECHNOLOGY
LAUNCHES ROYAL
ACADEMY OF
ENGINEERING
PROGRAM PICTURE
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STUDENT
LEADERSHIP
ORIENTATION
“This orientation was beneficial
to me on a personal developTHE Department of Student Affairs held a student leaderment as a future leader as I am
ship orientation aimed at assisting Student Representative
looking to hold more post varsiCouncil (SRC) and the rest of the student leadership to
understand their mandate in leading the NUST student
body.The orientation which is held annually assists the
SRC to establish a working relationship with the University Administration and other relevant stake holders.
Members of staff and captains of industry who gave presentation during the orientation encouraged the SRC to
foster good relations between NUST Administration and
students.“The SRC assumes responsibility for harmonizing
relationships between Administration staff, Academic staff
and the students. The SRC should ensure fair consideration
to the interest of all stake holders in the NUST community” said a Lecturer in the Department of Business Management, Mr P.M Ngulube.During the orientation, Webmaster, Nqgabutho Nhlabano highlighted the duties expected
of the SRC President.“Being the President of the SRC does
not mean that one has the power to abuse students
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ty leadership roles”
or being a magnet to opposite sex. The President needs to
exercise conscience, care, commitment, and courage” said
Nhlabano.
In an interview, Mzingaye Ndlovu, Secretary General of
the SRC, who also attended the orientation highlighted
its importance.“This orientation was beneficial to me on a
personal development as a future leader as I am looking to
hold more post varsity leadership roles” said Mzingaye.In
her closing remarks, Acting Deputy Dean of Students Ms
S. Magida encouraged the student leaders to be transparent
and honest as these are some of the qualities that make a
good leader.“The measure of a man’s real character is what
he would do if he thought he would never be found out”
said Ms Magida.
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NUST WELLNESS DAY
STUDENT CHECKING BP
STUDENT GETTING A FREE MASSAGE
WHILE health can be defined as the absence of disease, wellness
is more about a person’s lifestyle and taking charge of choices
they make to stay healthy. Wellness provides systems of holistic
care that integrate education and prevention efforts with medical
and mental health services.
THE National University of Science
and Technology in collaboration with
various stake holders which include
SAY WHAT, Ministry of health (Mpilo), National Blood Transmission and
Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development
conducted a Health and wellness day
with the aim of promoting healthy life
styles within the NUST community.
THE GREATEST WEALTH IS HEALTH .....STAY HAPPY STAY HEALTHY
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ZUSA GAMES IN PICTURES
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