President Hakainde Hichilema has called on institutions of Higher Learning to revise curriculums to ensure programmes offered reflect the needs of industries and the global trends.
President Hichilema who graced the Rusangu University 18th graduation ceremony in Monze today pointed out that skills imparted to students in colleges and universities should be those relevant to society and current economic developments.
He said with the changing climatic conditions investment in research development in the agriculture sector will help in the identification and production of drought resilient and high yielding seed varieties.
He thus advised Colleges and Universities to give students skills to enable them not only serve as employees but as employers as well.
“We want graduates to aspire to be capable to work for themselves and be employers as well, let us be relevant to society and the needs of our people. We need to use institutions like Rusangu University to orchestrate research and development, to do things such as the improvement of genetics in agriculture so that we produce drought resistant crops which are early maturing, to produce disease resistant and high yielding seeds.,” said President Hichilema.
President Hichilema further commended Rusangu University for its unique training philosophy.
“It important to train the hand at an early age. To train the mind to be focused and disciplined, to be a hard worker and indeed committing to what you do,” the Head of state said.
He advised the graduates to use knowledge derived from school to bring positive change to society.
And the President has assured Rusangu University of the government’s commitment to tarring the 4.5 kilometers road leading to the university.
President Hichilema said the road is key in that it leads to an institution that is providing education to Zambian citizens and international ones.
In his welcome remarks, Rusangu University Vice Chancellor, said the university believes in the holistic development of a graduate.
The Vice Chancellor DORABABU TADEPALLI who expressed gratitude to President Hichilema for giving the University a lecture theatre also urged the graduates to use knowledge derived from school to bring positive change to society.
He said the two storey lecture theatre building has been constructed with funds from the HH family of which will boost the university infrastructure.
Established in 2003, Rusangu University which is run by the Seventh Day Adventist today saw about 690 students graduating.
Turning challenges into opportunities is the aim of the 18th graduation ceremony, while the motto is enlightened minds for development.
Rusangu University follows the 3H model and has been an effective teaching model that has helped the university produce graduates who can use their hands, heads and hearts to effectively serve humanity with dignity.
