Midlands State University celebrates academic zenith as VC hails pioneering PhD graduate' s resilience

Dumisani Ndlovu

KWEKWE– A noticeable wave of jubilation swept through the Midlands State University (MSU) graduation ceremony recently, as the institution's Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Ngonidzashe Muzvidziwa, bestowed an affectionate pat on the back and showered praise upon a newly minted Doctor of Philosophy graduate, Dr. Bridget Parirenyatwa.

Her outstanding academic performance, particularly amidst unprecedented global challenges, served as a powerful testament to scholarly perseverance and intellectual fortitude.

In his compelling address to the august assembly, which included His Excellency and Chancellor President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Professor Muzvidziwa lauded Dr. Parirenyatwa as a beacon of intellectual prowess and a shining example of the university's commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation.

"Your Excellency and Chancellor," Professor Muzvidziwa commenced, "I have the profound privilege to present to you a total of 6849 graduands who are graduating today, a remarkable cohort poised to contribute meaningfully to national development."

"In a demonstration of our continuous strides towards gender equity in higher education, 54% of these graduands are female, and 46% are male, a clear indicator of our inclusive pedagogical philosophy."

The comprehensive breakdown of this year's graduating class underscored MSU's broad academic impact: 5432 individuals were conferred with honours degrees, 1186 with taught postgraduate degrees, 9 with Master of Philosophy degrees, and a distinguished cohort of 14 with Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Business Leadership degrees.

209 graduands received postgraduate diplomas, reflecting a robust academic ecosystem.

Among the fourteen Masters and doctoral graduands, Dr. Bridget Parirenyatwa stood out, not only for her pioneering research but also for her journey.

"Dr. Parirenyatwa was an integral part of our government-funded Indigenous Fruits and Herbs signature research project," the Vice Chancellor averred.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to the government for financing this critical project, which seeks to advance our understanding and unlock the latent economic value of our indigenous botanical resources."

"With such unwavering support, we are profoundly inspired to continue on the path of learning, rigorous research, and transformative innovation," Prof. Muzvidziwa said.

Dr. Parirenyatwa's arduous doctorate journey commenced in 2020. She was one of twelve ambitious Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy candidates enrolled at MSU for the "Beneficiation and Commercialisation of Indigenous Fruits and Herbs in Zimbabwe" programme, generously sponsored by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Innovation.

This collaborative initiative symolise the synergistic link between academic inquiry and national economic imperatives.

Like countless scholars globally, Dr. Parirenyatwa's studies were significantly impacted by the unprecedented exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic, including extensive lockdowns and a myriad of government-imposed restrictive measures.

Her ability to navigate these formidable obstacles, maintaining an unwavering commitment to her scholarly pursuit, is a powerful testament to her cognitive fortitude and resilience.

Of the initial twelve students in the programme, three MPhil students graduated last year, and Dr. Parirenyatwa now proudly stands as the first DPhil student from this pioneering cohort to achieve this esteemed academic distinction.

The ceremony also celebrated the graduation of other high-profile individuals, including Mr. Willard Manungo, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, and Honourable Felix Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

" The University is especially honoured to present Mr. Willard Manungo, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, among our doctoral graduands this year," Professor Muzvidziwa announced.

"Furthermore, our esteemed Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Mhona, will be graduating with a Master of Laws degree in Constitutional and Human Rights Law."

"This is a significant indicator that our programmes are attracting high-calibre students from critical government departments and national institutions."

"It is anticipated that the rigorous research outputs from such candidates will demonstrably inform evidence-based policy formulation and contribute substantively to strategies aimed at national economic transformation."

Further underscoring MSU's commitment to a forward-looking curriculum and industry relevance (Education 5.0), Professor Muzvidziwa proudly announced the graduation of the first cohorts from new programmes introduced just four years prior.

These include the BSc (Hons) Industrial Chemistry Degree; MSc Analytical Chemistry Degree; BSc (Hons) Biotechnology and Bioinformatics; and BSc (Hons) in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science Degree.

These pioneering disciplines are designed to equip graduates with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven global economy.

Midlands State University celebrates academic zenith as VC hails pioneering PhD graduate's resilience