Historical Note
The idea of a University in the Midlands dates back
to the foundation of the National University of Science
and Technology when Gweru, which was identified as a
possible site for a second university campus in the country, lost its
bid to Bulawayo. Two other opportunities to host institutions
of higher learning (the Open University and the Catholic
University) were also missed by the Midlands Province,
when the two universities went to Harare instead. It
was in the midst of such disappointments that two initiatives
gradually converged to give birth to what has since become
the Midlands State University. His Excellency, the President
R G Mugabe, on the nudging of the Provincial political
leadership of the Midlands, accepted to the idea of a
national university being built in the Midlands. This
coincided with the then Ministry of Higher Education and Technology's
policy of devolution, which was aimed at expanding access
to higher education by converting teachers and technical
colleges into degree granting institutions. It was through the process of devolution that beginning in 1998 Gweru Teachers College
started to enrol students studying for the Bachelor of Commerce with Education and the Bachelor of Science
with Education degrees offered by the University of Zimbabwe.
Establishment of the University
In the meantime, although the devolution policy inaugurated
an irrevocable process of bringing university education
to the Midlands, there was a strong feeling, especially
in the Province, that what was being done did not quite
amount to the President's promise of a fully fledged
state university in the province. Responding to these
feelings, but without losing sight of constraints imposed
on Government by declining national funds, the Minister
of Higher Education and Technology transformed the devolution
project at Gweru into Zimbabwe's third state university
by means of the State University in the Midlands Act
of April 1999.
The new University, whose name was later changed to
the Midlands State University, was to be initially housed
at the Gweru Teachers College premises. The mandate of
the institution was contained in its broad objects which
are the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension
of arts, science and learning, the preservation, dissemination
and enhancement of knowledge that is relevant for the
development of the people of Zimbabwe through teaching
and research and, so far as is consistent with the objects,
the nurturing of the intellectual, aesthetic, social
and moral growth of the students at the University.
Vision of the University
To be a unique, development oriented, pace-setting and
stakeholder driven University that produces innovative
and enterprising graduates.
Mission
• Commitment to a culture of problem solving
through quality research, teaching and training by means
of flexible packaging, work related learning and strategic
partnerships with the University's stakeholders for the
immediate and ultimate benefit of humanity;
• Commitment to improve the performance of
the economy through the promotion of managerial skills
and generation, dissemination and application of knowledge;
• Commitment to the recruitment, motivation
and retention of staff in an environment of a caring
institution;
• Commitment to the use of Information Communication
Technology (ICT) and the virtual classroom, as principal
teaching and training modes of delivery and research;
• Commitment to gender equality and equity
in student admissions and staff recruitment policies;
• Commitment to enhance the quality of people's
lives through new ideas and skills for sustainable utilization
of resources; and
• Commitment to promotion of quality research
through both taught and research post graduate studies
as means of generating new knowledge.
Core Values
• Driven by honesty, integrity, hard work
and passion for excellence tempered by self discipline
and care for others;
• Driven by sensitivity to gender equality
and equity, needs of the disadvantaged, African culture
and devotion to self-sufficiency and professionalism.
Strategic Goal
To establish a fully semesterised University with 10 faculties, 18 000 students, 900 teaching and 400 support staff, with the requisite services and infrastructure by the year 2015.
Operational System
The University is administered through the committee
system embedded in the statutory instruments that currently
govern the operation of the University. This is a system
likely to give the university extra mileage in terms
of output of resolutions and recommendations. This democratic
dispensation has been reinforced through the involvement
of all stakeholders, including the university students.
Academic programmes
The ultimate goal of MSU is to establish a University
with ten faculties by 2015. To date the University offers
degree programmes in seven faculties. These are Arts,
Commerce, Education, Law, Natural Resources Management
and Agriculture, Science and Technology and Social Sciences.
The degree programmes on offer have been strengthened
through flexible packaging of modules. Flexible packaging
allows students studying for a particular degree to make
themselves more marketable by including in this package
of studies modules "shopped" from other programmes. This
is a new method of teaching and learning in Universities
which is meant to satisfy the specific requirements of
the students and their chosen professions. The packaging
of modules dissolves the regimentalisation of the older
educational curricular, hence students become out flexible
and well equipped for the special needs and diversity
of the actual world of work. The main purpose of flexible
packaging is to enable students to overcome professional
rigidity so that they can respond positively to new situations,
possibilities and challenges of industry, especially
within the rapid changes dictated by new technologies
and economic environments.
Fully Semesterised University
Midlands State University is a fully semesterised and
modularised University. Enrolment takes place twice a
year, in March and in August. Modules offered at any
level in a semester are available at the same level during
the next semester. This arrangement gives an opportunity
to those students who, at the end of a semester are required
to 'carry' or 'repeat' failed modules to do so in the
next semester.
Students enrolled at MSU study for four-year or five-year
degree programmes spending their Third Level on Work
Related Learning in industry and other relevant work
places. The University stresses entrepreneurial skills
so that graduates can either be formally or self employed.
Work Related Learning is a contemporary approach to teaching
and learning which requires a student to spend some time
during the course of study on "hands on" practical experience
in the relevant field.
Modes of Study at MSU
Full time undergraduate applicants are enrolled at the
university either as conventional or parallel students.
These applicants are normally admitted on the basis of
their Advanced level passes. The period of study for
this category of students is four to five years.
Visiting School
The Visiting School mode of study enrols students on
the minimum academic qualification of "O" level subjects
plus a relevant certificate or diploma qualification.
The applicants for this programme should normally be
in full time employment.
Visiting School students attend classes for a week per
month. They complete their studies in three years. The
University introduced this programme to enable applicants
who are in employment to improve themselves professionally
and to obtain degrees while they are on their jobs.
Bachelor of Education
The MSU Bachelor of Education programme enrols students
into either the Full Time or Block Release mode of study.
Full time students complete their studies in two years
and Block Release student complete their studies in three
years.
Bachelor of Education applicants are normally holders
of either the Certificate or Diploma in Education. "A"
level qualifications are an added advantage. B Ed Block
Release students attend classes during school holidays.
Graduands
To date the university has had three cohorts of students
graduating. In May 2004, 370 students were capped and
907 others were capped at the Conferment ceremony held
later in the year on 25 November 2004 and in August 2005,
609 students graduated.
Masters Degree Programme
To date the University has the following Masters programmes:
• Master of Business Administration;
• Master of Arts in African Diaspora Literature
in English;
• Master of Arts in English Linguistics;
• Master of Arts in Developmental Studies;
• Master of Commerce in Accounting;
• Master of Commerce in Marketing Strategy;
• Master of Commerce in Strategic Management
and Corporate Governance;
• Master of Education in Curriculum Studies;
• Master of Education in Educational Management;
• Master of Education in Philosophy of Education;
• Master of Education in Psychology;
• Master of Education in Sociology;
• Master of Science in Livestock and Wildlife
Sciences;
• Master of Science in Ecological Resource
Management;
• Master of Science in Media Studies and
• Master of Science in Human Resource Management.
