Earth Science Education in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a mineral-rich country with a long history of Earth Science Edu cation. The establishment of a University Geology Department in 1960 allowe d the country to produce its own earth science graduates. These graduates a re readily absorbed by the mining industry and few are without work. Demand for places at the University is high and entry standards reflect this. Stu dents enter the University after GCE A levels in three science subjects and most go on to graduate. Degree programmes include B.Sc. General in Geology (plus another science), B.Sc. Honours in Geology and M.Sc. in Exploration Geology and in Geophysics. The undergraduate curriculum is broad-based and increasingly vocationally orientated. A well-equipped building caters for r elatively large student numbers and also houses analytical facilities used for research and teaching. Computers are used in teaching from the first ye ar onwards. Staff are on average poorly qualified compared to other univers ities, but there is an impressive research element. The Department has good links with many overseas universities and external funding agencies play a strong supporting role. That said, financial constraints remain the greate st barrier to future development, although increasing links with the mining industry may cushion this. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights r eserved.