The ethos of the Bindura University of Science Education is to promote science for human development. This motto is guided by the institution’s vision of producing transformative and innovative graduates that impact the world and build Zimbabwe.
As such BUSE endeavours to create an environment conducive to teaching and learning, while challenging generations of students to come up with innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.
The design of BUSE degree programmes is meant to immerse students into challenges that require innovative thinking to come up with solutions to contemporary problems and thus sparking an entrepreneurship mentality in students.
One Thandolwenkosi Moyo, a part 3.2 Biological Sciences student who is currently on work-related learning espouses this ideal fully.
While undertaking a course in mycology, Thandolwenkosi sort to better himself by researching more on the subject and came up with an innovative solution to financing his education.
Thandolwenkosi, through his research, realised that he could venture into profitable mushroom farming and achieve financial independence.
“We did a course in mycology and that is where I got the idea of growing mushrooms. I did research soon after doing the mycology course then I made a trial and it worked,” reflected Thandolwenkosi.
Thandolwenkosi has since started a company, Purcha Investments, and has been able to attract investors.
“I was doing this on a small scale and I always wanted to grow big. I presented to someone the idea, and then he put money and we agreed on having shares (to the business). So we pushed and the business has grown and there are now people who are employed and getting salaries,” remarked Thandolwenkosi.
Besides his mushroom project, Thandolwenkosi is also into liquid fertilizer production. This is also a result of the knowledge he gleaned from the innovative courses taught at BUSE. Using chicken manure which he ferments, Thandolwenkosi is fast becoming a major supplier of liquid fertilizer to the Bulawayo family community.
“When I started this business, I gave a few samples to a few farmers for free so that they can try them out, and the farmers seemed to like the product,” said Thandolwenkosi.
“Currently, the business is doing well and the product is promising. I supply farmers in Bulawayo, Matobo, Nyamandlovu, and some in Botswana,” he said.
His BioMass Liquid Fertilizer was born after he studied a course and realised that he could create for himself a niche in organic fertilizers. He hopes to register a company and scale his business.