News Bytes: University Farm receives grant to scale up farm operations
Africa University has received a generous grant to purchase a tractor for the university farm from West Virginia Conference Secretary of Global Ministries Jeff Matheny and his wife Melanie that shall be used to increase the efficiency of farm operations. The tractor shall also serve the Fairfield Children’s Home agriculture projects at Old Mutare. Receiving the grant on behalf of Vice Chancellor Rev. Prof. Peter Mageto, Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Machakanja appreciated the gift and emphasized the importance of agriculture to the university that opened in 1992 with two faculties, one being the Faculty of Agriculture and the other the Faculty of Theology, speaking to the importance and deep roots of the institution in ensuring food security and peace.
Mr. Matheny said of the university farm, ” Each time my wife and I visit Africa University, we are always amazed by the works of the farm and its continued development. I myself am a farmer so it is something that is very close to my heart and seeing what you do here always brings me much joy and excitement.”
The relationship between the university farm and Fairfield Children’s home has been a long and illustrious one with the former tilling the lands at the Home each agriculture season as well as donating wheat, maize and chickens to feed the children resident there.
Curriculum review and development workshop set to design programs for the future
The university’s faculty are currently engaged in a high level curriculum development and review workshop that began on the 7th of November and is scheduled to end on the 10th. With intercollegiate camaraderie and honest interrogation of course outlines, expected student learning outcomes and programs designed for the future, the exercise is expected to refine and refocus programs on offer to ensure they are relevant to the student of tomorrow . Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor and Director of Research and Innovation, Professor Pamela Machakanja, highlighted the break neck pace at which the globe is evolving with the dawn of the Artificial Intelligence era and what it means to the higher education landscape with the necessity for dynamic thinking that challenges and interrogates the development agenda for the continent required.
Registrar Dr. Pedzisayi Mangezvo encouraged faculty to think globally in their processes, taking stock of the demands of industry and the continent to guarantee critical skills gaps are filled through the development of high impact and relevant programs. With Education 5.0 , Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals at the core of program development at AU, the university is adding its voice to the call for higher education that adds value to the communities it is meant to change and transforms the world for the better.
A helping hand- AU Chaplaincy donates wheelchairs to empower the physically disabled
Africa University, through the Chaplaincy office, donated wheelchairs to disabled people in Harare. These wheelchairs were handed over at the United Methodist Church Headquarters in Harare to support the physically challenged. A unique thing about these wheelchairs is that they also have a cart to allow the physically challenged to move about freely with their wares. This is a move to help capacitate and empower the physically challenged and support their work.
