About Reformed Church University
The Reformed Church University (RCU) was formed out of the Charter given to the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) by the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) in 2010. This gave the Church the opportunity to start laying down concrete milestones towards the ultimate opening of our new University in 2012.
At the beginning of 2012, with the generous support of the Church, the Reformed Church University was able to raise funds to finance the accreditation of the first four degree programmes and the subsequent opening of the Reformed Church University on 12 August 2012.
The programmes that the University offered on its inception are Bachelor of Education Honours Degree in Special Needs Education, Bachelor of Education Honours Degree in Early Childhood Development, a Bachelor of Theology Honours Degree and a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Human Resources, Industrial and Labour Relations Management.
On 8 December 2012, the Reformed Church University successfully hosted the Launch and Installation of Chancellor and Vice Chancellor event. The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington T. Mbizvo was the Guest of Honour at the event.
The main objective of the event was to launch the University and install the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. However, the occasion also provided a platform for fundraising. To that effect, the University published and distributed a fundraising booklet and fundraising letters as part of the invitations to various stakeholders. The University managed to raise several donations in cash and kind.
In line with the Reformed Church University’s vision of being a relevant world class centre of excellence in special needs education, theology and community service embedded in Christian values, an application for the accreditation of new degree programmes was made to ZIMCHE in February 2013 with the view of widening the options of courses available to people living with and without disabilities. The application was also made with the view of addressing skills requirements much needed in business and industry in the country.
The programmes were:
· Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Public Administration,
· Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Marketing,
· Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree in Business Management.
ZIMCHE has since approved and accredited the above programmes and the University is currently engaged in a nationwide enrolment drive for new students.
The University, presently located at Morgenster Mission, about 35 kilometres from Masvingo, is Zimbabwe’s 4th church-owned University. We currently rely on facilities offered by our RCZ sister institutions, namely Henry Murray School for the Deaf, Morgenster Teachers College, Murray Theological College and Mabuku Printing Press. The University shall move to a more permanent setting at a Church-owned farm located approximately 7km outside Masvingo along Bulawayo road. Construction of facilities at the new site starts in 2014.