significantly enhance our historic partnership with Africa University”. He detailed the scope of the biotechnology course. He said, “A master’s degree in biotechnology will increase employment opportunities considerably for their students in the global workforce. The program also expands Claflin’s brand throughout the continent. This will help us recruit talented diverse scholars, faculty and researchers from Africa and other countries”.
In January 2021, Mageto was named temporary vice chancellor of Africa University, following the death of the university’s fourth vice chancellor, Professor Munashe Furusa, who passed away unexpectedly in the same month. Mageto said, “We see biotechnology as a program that will strengthen our relationship with Claflin. We also see this as an opportunity to develop an international program that will attract students from beyond our borders and impact how governments will begin to think about biotechnology and climate change.”
Africa University in Zimbabwe is the General Conference of the United Methodist Church’s first and only fully authorized school of higher study in the African continent. Africa University and Claflin are both associated with the United Methodist Church. Despite the fact that COVID-19 halted the partnership’s faculty/student exchange program, Africa University and Claflin management continued their operation via digital communications channels.
During the pandemic, Africa University increased its online admission by converting all of its academic courses to 100% online. Mageto said that student admission increased from 2,400 to 3,000. Mageto said, “We see ourselves as a learning, teaching and research center that benefits tremendously from this partnership. Everyone is very excited about the M.S. in biotechnology program. The enrollment numbers will be shocking because the program is both historic and unique.”
