Rusangu University

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Rusangu University
Motto Education for Service
Established 2002
Type Private
Religious affiliation Seventh-day Adventist Church
Vice-Chancellor Proff John Mutuku Mutinga Musvosvi[1]
Academic staff 80
Admin. staff 50
Undergraduates 2000
Postgraduates 40
Location Monze, Zambia
Campus Rural
Former names

Zambia Adventist Seminary,

Zambia Adventist University
Colors      Gray
     Black
     White
     Burgundy
Nickname

ZAU,

Kurusangu
Website

Rusangu University Official Website

Rusangu University Official Facebook page

Rusangu University, formerly known as Zambia Adventist University,[2] is a private coeducational Christian university based in Rusangu Mission near Monze in Zambia. It is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

History

In 1903 William Harrison Anderson,[3] a Christian missionary of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, crossed the Zambezi River from Solusi Mission in Zimbabwe to set up the Rusangu Mission in Zambia in 1905.[4][5] King Lewanika of the Barotse people had invited Anderson to come into his territory and establish the mission.[6]

Anderson walked 900 miles before deciding on a location.[6] He described how he chose the site:
In locating the new mission there was a combination of four things that I especially desired. First, of course, was proximity to the native. A person can accomplish very little in laboring for the people unless he is near them. Secondly, we wanted a good supply of water...we wanted water for irrigation, that we might raise fruit and garden produce. Thirdly we desired proximity to the railway line... so I followed the watershed, in the hope that we might be near the railway line when it was built through the country.... The fourth point we desired was to establish an industrial mission, where the natives might be taught to work, which is one of the principles of the gospel. We therefore wanted good soil.[7]

Anderson and his wife arrived on the farm the fifth of September 1905. He built their home, planted a garden, developed a farm, built a school-house, taught the school, and acted as doctor and nurse to the people who came to the station for help.[8]

From this mission station, grew the Rusangu Primary School, the Rusangu Secondary School and eventually in 1975 the Rusangu Ministerial School. In 1993, the Rusangu Ministerial School changed its name to Zambia Adventist Seminary. A year later in 1994, the Seminary was closed to pave way for re-organization.

In 1997, plans to re-open the Seminary brought the idea of the Zambia Adventist College that would offer other courses in addition to theology and pastoral training. In 2000, an in-service program for serving church pastors began at Riverside Farm Institute in collaboration with Solusi University. With the full development of the Zambia Adventist College idea, this pastors’ program finally moved back to the historic Rusangu Mission site in May 2003. Rapid developments have since given birth to a full fledge Zambia Adventist university.[9]

Academic divisions

Zambia Adventist University is composed of the following schools:[10]

  • School of Business
  • School of Education
  • School of Humanities and School Sciences
  • School of Science and Technology
  • School of Theology and Religious Studies

Notable alumni

  • Rupiah Banda, former Zambian President, Phd in Political Science graduate

See also

References

  1. Adventist Yearbook. General Conference Office of Statistics & Archives. Retrieved 2009-08-21
  2. "ZAMBIA ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY EMBRACES A NEW NAME, 'RUSANGU UNIVERSITY' (RU)". Zambia Adventist University. Retrieved 22 March 2011. 
  3. W. H. Aderson's biography
  4. "Intrepid Pioneer Missionaries, William and Nora Anderson, Africa". Adventist Mission. Retrieved 2012-02-20.  Includes picture of Anderson and Stockil travelling by ox wagon
  5. Anderson, Gerald H. editor (1999). Biographical dictionary of Christian missions. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8028-4680-8. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 Anderson, W. H. (26 February 1918). "Locating the Pemba Mission Station, Barotseland". The Youth's Instructor (Washington, D. C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 66 (9): 3–5. Retrieved 2012-02-21. 
  7. Ragsdale, John P. (1986). Protestant mission education in Zambia, 1880–1954. Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-941664-09-0. 
  8. Anderson, W. H. (July 1925). "Opening other new stations". The Church Officers Gazette (Washington, D. C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 12 (7): 15. Retrieved 2012-02-22. 
  9. History of Zambia Adventist University
  10. Schools. Zambia Adventist University. Retrieved 2009-08-21

External links

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