The Malawi University of Business and
Applied Sciences team
Suzgo Kaunda’s research focus is on sustainable energy systems, environment and climate change. He has been involved in research and teaching at postgraduate level including supervision and examination of Masters students. He is currently Coordinator of Postgraduate Programmes in the Faculty of Engineering, and has been the Lead Applicant for Higher Education Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa Project, awarded to University of Malawi in 2017 -2019 by the UK Government through the Global Challenges Research Fund, administered by the Royal Academy of Engineering. He has provided consultancy services to the Malawi Government in coming up of National Communications to UNFCCC COPs (Second and Third) and Technology Needs Assessment in the areas of energy.
Theresa Mkandawire is a Registered Civil Engineer. She holds a PhD from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Oklahoma State University, USA. Theresa served as Dean of Engineering from 2013 to 2018 at University of Malawi. She has led programme development for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. She also led the development a new mining engineering department at University of Malawi, The Polytechnic. Theresa also led the development of an international Masters programme in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University and University of Botswana, which is currently running.
Isaac Gwayi received his MSc in Electrical Engineering from Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa in 2019. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Malawi in 2012. He joined the department in 2014 and teaches several undergraduate courses including Control Systems, Measurement and Instrumentation, Embedded Systems and Electronics. He was involved in solar PV installation and monitoring under the Sustainable Off-Grid Electrification for Rural Villages (SOGERV) project funded by the Scottish Government and led by Strathclyde University. His research areas of interest are Control Systems, Measurement and Instrumentation and Renewable Energy.
Timothy Chadza, a senior lecturer at the MUBAS Department of Electrical Engineering and the current Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, received his PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. In collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, he coordinates the MSc in Sustainable Energy programme. He serves as the primary point of contact for the execution of the programme. In addition, he oversees the modules on project management and research methodology and Solar PV. He has also provided consulting services for requirements assessments related to solar systems and broadband solutions for remote irrigation and solar PV system monitoring. In addition to supervising research projects for the programme, he has written papers on solar PV systems.
Joseph Chikaphonya Phiri. A Lecturer in Electrical Engineering Department at MUBAS, A holder of a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Power Systems from The African Centre of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development under University of Rwanda. Currently oversees modules on Solar Energy Systems, Renewable Energy Systems Installation, and Energy Policy. Research interests includes clean energy system and PV systems with a focus on Mini grids. Recent works include the development of a mini grid electricity billing system, development on a hydrogen powered cookstove and developing framework for increasing productive use of renewable energy in developed countries.
Kelvin is a holder of Master of Philosophy in Electronics & Electrical Engineering obtained in Glasgow at University of Strathclyde. Kelvin’s main research interest is the feasibility of ‘off grid’ community based energy projects and how to identify and promote technically appropriate, economically viable and scalable solutions for sustainable rural ‘off grid’ modern energy supply to support the development needs of Malawi.
Since 2008 Kelvin has been an active member in renewable energy projects promoting improved sustainability of rural solar panel deployments in Malawi by focussing on community engagement and empowerment, local responsibility and income generation. Working in partnership with the University of Strathclyde as a Project Coordinator for Scottish funded projects, he has played a leading role in fulfilling the project’s objectives of deployment of strategic community energy projects focusing on capacity building and technical, social and economic data collection and analysis inorder to provide evidence for projects impact. Kelvin has gained valuable insight in many aspects of cooperation and coordination, ownership, and traditional leadership in rural community actions in Malawi with respect to the sustainability of ‘off-grid’ renewable energy installations.
In addition, Kelvin interacts with relevant departments of the Government of Malawi institutions of higher learning, private sector and civil society organizations in Malawi as well as international partner organizations and has built up a broad knowledge around existing strategies, stakeholders and projects in the field of renewable energies and on developing ideas and sharing concepts on rural electrification and alternative energies to fit into existing structures in Malawi.
Dr. Rodwell Simeon Bakolo is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS). He holds a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Throughout his career, Dr. Bakolo has taught a range of undergraduate courses, including electronics, programmable logic controllers, and computer applications, among others. His research focuses on the potential for manufacturing renewable energy devices within the Malawian context, with a particular interest in the design of energy-efficient technologies for renewable energy applications.
