Levi Nyagura
Levi Nyagura | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe | |
| In office January 2003 – 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Hill |
| Succeeded by | Paul Mapfumo |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | University of Rhodesia (BS) University of London (BS) University of Zimbabwe (GradCE) University of South Africa (MS) Southern Illinois University (PhD) |
Levi Martin Nyagura is a Zimbabwean academic. He was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe in January 2003 and was subsequently reappointed for a second, third and a fourth term, the latter of which ended in mid 2018.[1][2]
Education and career[edit]
Levi Nyagura holds a PhD in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University, USA. He has a background as a Mathematics lecturer; he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Special Honours in Mathematics from the University of Rhodesia, then graduated with a BSc degree in Mathematics and Physics from University of London, United Kingdom. He went on to complete a Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Zimbabwe and later an MSc degree in Mathematics with the University of South Africa before doing his PhD in the United States.[3]
Awards[edit]
Nyagura was awarded The Zimbabwe Institute of Management Public Services Manager of the Year (2005), The Zimbabwe Institute of Management Harare Regional Public Services Manager of the Year (2012) and The Zimbabwe Institute of Management Public Services Manager of the Year (2012)[4]
Controversies[edit]
Nyagura controversially awarded a PhD degree to Grace Mugabe in 2014.[5]
In 2015 Nyagura controversially fired a senior university staffer Senior Assistant Registrar Ngaatendwe Takawira for allegedly procuring a small cap for Robert Mugabe that failed to fit during a graduation ceremony he officiated as Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe in October 2015, a decision later reversed by a Zimbabwean court.[6]
Nyagura has been widely criticized for presiding over the University of Zimbabwe's demise, characterized by a failure to retain staff because of poor remuneration, politicization of the institution, purges of independent minded academics, and purges of senior academics who protested Nyagura's leadership style.[7] He reportedly boasts of his penchant for firing staff and not renewing contracts.[8]
Publications[edit]
Nyagura has published mainly on teacher[9] and student performance[10] in Zimbabwe's schools, as well as overall school performance.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ "Nyagura suspension: Reviving calls for academic freedom, prudence - NewsDay Zimbabwe". www.newsday.co.zw. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
- ^ University of Zimbabwe. "About UZ". Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Levi Nyagura Profile". University of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Levi Nyagura". 8 April 2019.
- ^ Owen, Gagare (10 October 2014). "Nyagura under fire over Grace's PhD". The Zimbabwe Independent. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Mutsaka, Farai. "Zimbabwean university staffer suspended in small cap mishap". Yahoo News. Yahoo. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Newsday, Editorial. "University of Zimbabwe integrity at lowest ebb". News Day. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Ncube, Xolisani. "University of Zimbabwe to lay off 700 workers". News Day. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ Nyagura, L.M.; Reece, J.C. (1990). "Teacher quality in Zimbabwe secondary schools" (PDF). Zimbabwe Journal of Education Research. Harare: Human Resources Research Centre University of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2009-01-04. [dead link]
- ^ Riddell, A. R.; Nyagura, L. M. (1991). What Causes Differences in Achievement in Zimbabwe's Secondary Schools? (PDF). New York: World Bank. p. 55. ASIN B0006EZFX2.
- ^ Nyagura, L.M. (1991). "A Comparative Analysis Of The Quality of Primary Education In Zimbabwe By School Type" (PDF). Zimbabwe Journal of Education Research. Harare: Human Resources Research Centre University of Zimbabwe. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2009.