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SUZA MARKS THE SEVENTH GRADUATION AND MARKS THE END OF TEN-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION |
It is like hitting two birds with one stone -- As the State University conducts seventh graduation ceremony today, 24th December, 2011, it also reaches an apex of its ten year anniversary celebration.
The colorful ceremony took place at Vuga Campus, at the heart of Zanzibar Stone Town.
The Chancellor of The University, his Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein conferred degrees to 327 graduates. He also conferred two honorary doctorates to former presidents of Zanzibar, namely Dr. Salmin Amour Juma, and Dr. Amani Abeid Karume.
Other distinguished guests who attended the ceremony include the Second Vice President Honorable Balozi Seif Ali Idd, Ministers, Ambassadors and consulates in Zanzibar, representatives from The East African Cooperation and many more.
In his speech, the Chancellor of SUZA and his Excellency the President of Zanzibar assured the public that since the state university is a public university, the government will continue to support its development to world class higher learning institution.
The president challenged SUZA management to use SUZA as a platform to make Zanzibar reclaim its leading position in Kiswahili.
He argued them to establish SUZA as an Oxford of Kiswahili. That is, SUZA should publish SUZA branded books and dictionaries for promoting Kiswahili in the world.
He also urged SUZA management to start expansion process the university that will see new programs are offered at SUZA. He mentioned some of the important areas such as Tourism, Agriculture, Health Sciences, and ICTs.
Research is another issue that was emphasized by the Chancellor. He argued SUZA academics to engage themselves in research so as to fasten the pace of development of the country.
He also, iterated the importance of research in establishing university's and academics reputation world wide.
Cooperation and partnership with other universities, both internally and externally, was given priority in his speech so long as such partnership would produce positive results to The State University of Zanzibar and the development of the country at large.
On the side of students, the president promised to put into consideration of creating conducive environment for SUZA students so that they would afford to study by loans and comfortably conduct their academic activities. He was quoted. "In the near future, the students' loans board of Zanzibar will have its special fund in order that the students can afford to study at higher learning institutions like SUZA. How ever, this will depend on the economic situation of the country…"
The issue of lecturers was also touched, and the president insisted that he would take specific actions so as to make sure that the payment is actually well structured for the benefit of the whole.
The president did not hesitate to invite the people individually and collectively as well as other private companies to support the government efforts in making our university a success for the country's development.
On his side, the Vice Chancellor outlined the achievements of SUZA in the past ten years.
He also promised the Chancellor and the public that SUZA will accelerate the process of expansion as called upon the Chancellor. Pointing to potential challenges ahead, The Vice chancellor stated that Zanzibar, as a country, should keep up with the pace of expansion in higher education system in Africa and East Africa specifically. Failure to do so, Zanzibaris will fail to benefit from local and regional job market.
The colorful graduation ceremony was completed by a rare photo opportunity of students, president, university management, government dignitaries, and distinguished guests.
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