Bindura University of Science Education opened its doors to its first students on 26 March 1996 as a college of science education with an intake of 125. This was in response to the Government’s desire to address the shortage of science teachers in the country.
Among the pioneering lecturing staff, were five lecturers from Cuba. This development coincided with, and was partly a consequence of the termination of the Zimbabwe-Cuba Science Teacher Training programme which had begun operating in the mid-1980s. The University Council then set up a Planning Committee, which was charged with the responsibility of transforming the college into a University within a period of not more than five years
In February 2000, the government gazetted the Bindura University of Science Education Act, which conferred University status to the College. A University Council headed by Professor C. J. Chetsanga was appointed to run the affairs of the University with Professor C. E. M. Chikomba, who. had been the college’s substantive Pro-Vice Chancellor since 1997 becoming the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Over the years the institution has grown and now boasts of five faculties, the Faculty of Science Education, the Faculty of Science Engineering, the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, the Faculty of Commerce and the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Since its inception, the University has been operating from a Public Service Training Centre as its main campus with three more campuses – Astra, Town and FSE – being established over the years. The new Main Campus situated at the FSE Campus is being built on a 159-hectare plot about two kilometres from the town centre along the Bindura – Mount Darwin Road.