Posted in About Us
MUTARE POLYTECHNIC
Founded in 1948 as a surrogate institution of Salisbury Polytechnic, Mutare Polytechnic is considered one of the best polytechnics in Zimbabwe renowned for its hands on approach embedded in the heritage based philosophy of using locally available resources and Education 5.0 which looks at teaching, research, community service ,innovation and industrialisation. These pillars of learning thrives to translate the institution ideas into tangible products that improves development and service delivery at the institution and beyond.
Conducive Environment
Nestled in the beautiful eastern border city of Mutare; a city which boasts cooler
temperatures throughout the year and picturesque Eastern Highlands mountains makes Mutare Polytechnic a perfect institution for tertiary education. Moreso, its campus is within a walking distance from the Central Business District, making it convenient for students to access services like banking and shopping.
Mutare Polytechnic offers fully furnished student accommodation with reliable internet connectivity which enables students to access scholarly and academic resources both virtually and physically at the institution’s information centre. Student meals are offered at the campus dining hall. The evolution of our institute over the past decade has witnessed a strong blend of state of the art infrastructure and intricately intertwined with human resource committed to providing the best education anchored on creativity and innovation.
Courses Offered
With more than 3 500 students pursuing various Zimbabwe’s Higher Education Council (HEXCO) courses in —engineering, applied arts and sciences, civil and construction, commerce, information management systems and research education enterprise development— the graduates are able to address economic concerns using their acquired skills. These courses are offered on full or part time and block release basis at National Certificate, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels.Mutare Polytechnic’s location gives it unique research strengths that are hard to replicate elsewhere, with high access to vast raw timber resources as such the institution continues to train technologists, through its two Bachelor of Technology degree programmes in Wood
Technology and Construction Engineering in collaboration with the National University of Science Technology (NUST). All the programmes are designed to make industry happen.
Driven by Research
Impetus for research, Mutare Polytechnic is always thriving to make Zimbabwe and the world at large better places. The institution has dedicated 5% of its annual budget towards research. The work of these researchers has a real impact on society as they provide solutions to real problems faced by communities, hence the need for adequate funding.
The institution’s research leads the way in the field of applied research. The aim of the research is to unlock human potential at the same time creating wealth and sustainable socio economic growth for industrialisation and modernisation. This is demonstrated through Mutare Polytechnic Research Association and the Innovation and Technology Department.
Work Related Partners
The institution’s strong links with industry connect students with work integrated learning opportunities to ensure that they are work ready.
Partnerships
Mutare Polytechnic values and is open to creating partnerships in its training as these linkages allow cross pollination of mutual, cultural and business ideas as well as programmes and development. Currently it is in partnership with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and the Zimbabwe government’s Climate Change Management Department National Ozone Unit.
Agro-business
The institution has a thriving agro-business which includes poultry, rabbit, cattle and goat- raring, maize, cow peas, bananas and vegetable farming. This has helped to improve the student nutrition as most of the products from the farm have been channelled to the student canteen.The institution will be self sufficient and able to feed both students and staff and in future have excess to supply to the economy thus contributing to food security.
Cultural Diversity
The institution embraces cultural diversity, it is unashamedly the polytechnic of the land and for the people of the region and this has seen Mutare Polytechnic attracting a number of regional students especially from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The institution’s vibrant regional student community is attracted particularly to the multicultural character of the Manicaland province and the institution is looking to attract more students beyond the SADC region.
Extra-Curricular Activities
There is an ample of scope in co-curricular activities at Mutare Polytechnic wherein students are encouraged to show their talents. Mutare Polytechnic ensures that students prove themselves to be not only well qualified engineers, entrepreneurs, competent leaders, innovative scientist and researchers but also very healthy citizens. These sorts of opportunities do not come again cheaply or conveniently again, once you get a job you will have much less time to enjoy your hobbies.The entire atmosphere of Mutare Polytechnic is glued together by family spirit, which promotes collaboration and cooperation creating industry ready, globally competitive students who are socially acceptable.
Since inception, the college has been headed by three Principals, Mr Auther Mandimika (-1988), Mr Tobias Kuwengwa (1989 - 2014) and currently Mrs Poniso Watema .
Upon her appointment, Ms Watema led the coining of the institutions’ motto ‘The Pacesetter’.Moreso, one of the major project carried out in the institution was the construction of a perimeter wall with razor wire around the campus as well as around the hostels. In addition to this all lecture rooms were equipped with high tech interactive boards for teaching and learning purpose and hostel installation of geysers among other achievements.