Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) recently held an orientation session for students enrolled in the Certificate in Fire Science and Civil Protection programme, with a strong emphasis on character, clear thinking and service to the community.

The programme is offered in partnership with Mutare City Council and is designed to prepare students for the demands of fire and disaster response in local authorities across the country.

Welcoming the students, the Executive Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Isheunesu Amon Chaka, told them that they had chosen a calling that places them at the centre of public safety and national resilience.

He explained that the University’s Communiversity philosophy ensures that what students learn connects directly with the realities and development needs of the communities around them.

“Your ultimate laboratory will be our communities, and your ultimate mandate will be safeguarding the lives, infrastructure, and environments of our people,” said Dr Chaka.

He noted that the training ahead will call for physical endurance and sharp intellectual agility, and urged the students to treat thinking as a foundational skill.

“In high-stakes emergencies, rote protocols are not always enough,” he said.

Giving the closing remarks, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness Management and Applied Social Sciences, Dr Moses Jachi, congratulated the students on joining the University and commended the partnership with Mutare City Council as a practical response to the need for trained emergency service professionals.

He added that communities place their safety in the hands of emergency responders, and that the trust attached to that responsibility is earned through discipline and honesty. Dr Jachi thanked all who contributed to the session and wished the students success as they begin their studies.

The event was graced by senior management, directors and students on attachment.