VICE President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga has underscored the nexus between education and development, commending higher learning institutions for their contribution to human capital development.
He was speaking at the Arupe Jesuit University Academic opening assembly of the Institution’s 2025/2026 academic year.
The ceremony began with a mass, in line with the university’s Jesuit and Catholic heritage.
In his address soon after the mass, Vice President Chiwenga lauded the university’s commitment to developing graduates who are not only intellectually capable, but also ethically grounded and socially responsible in line with the government’s vision.
“It is important to highlight that the academic programmes offered at this institution are aligned with the government’s Education 5.0 philosophy, which emphasises the integration of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the learning process. I wish to commend the Jesuit Society and the Roman Catholic Church for their role in advancing higher and tertiary education in the country. Your commitment to nurturing students is grounded in high moral values,” he said.
“This university plays a pivotal role in producing graduates who are not only intellectually competent, but also ethically grounded and socially responsible. You are contributing a lot to human capital development. For the new students, I urge you to grasp the values of this institution, which include commitment to service.”
The institution’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Stephen Buckland, encouraged students to fully immerse themselves in the institution’s ethos, which he said is essential for personal growth and for their future contributions to the country.
“This is an arena of higher education where you are setting out an agenda for the rest of your life. What you do determines your future,” he noted.
New students focusing on different disciplines undertook an induction pledge.
“This university will mould me not only academically, but also spiritually,” a student said.
“I wish to contribute meaningfully to society after this course on software engineering,” another student noted.
“I come from Kenya, and I hope that after my studies, I will be a responsible man,” a student added.
Arupe Jesuit University is a private, Catholic, and multicultural higher education institution that was established in the early 1990s.
The university was founded as Arupe College in 1994, before being awarded university status in 2018, allowing it to award degrees.
