Research at MZUNI
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Advancing Knowledge: Driving Research and Scholarly Excellence
The Directorate of Research (often referred to as DoR) at Mzuzu University (MZUNI) is a key administrative unit responsible for coordinating, promoting, and supporting the university’s research activities.
Its primary purpose is to drive the generation of new knowledge and innovations that contribute to Malawi’s economic and social development. This aligns directly with national priorities such as Malawi 2063, the MIP-1 2030, NESIP 2030, the SDGs, and the African Union Agenda 2063, as emphasized in MZUNI’s 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.
To coordinate, promote, and support ethical, collaborative research, innovation, and knowledge dissemination, enabling faculty, students, and partners to generate impactful knowledge, protect intellectual property, foster entrepreneurship, and deliver evidence- based solutions for Malawi's development and global scholarship
To be a leading hub for transformative, high-impact research and innovation that positions Mzuzu University as Malawi's premier research-intensive institution and a key driver of sustainable national and global development
Our Core Functions / Mandate
Dedicated to shaping a sustainable, functional, and inspiring campus environment.
The Directorate plays a central role under Pillar 3: Research and Innovation, which has the
strategic goal of generating new knowledge and innovations needed for Malawi's economic
development by 2030. Specific responsibilities include:
Our Core Functions
- Supporting academics, researchers, and staff to improve research skills, quality, and relevance.
- Resource mobilisation and managing research grants.
- Promoting market demand-driven and collaborative research, including university- industry partnerships and research clusters aligned with national priorities.
- Facilitating innovation, intellectual property (IP) management, patenting, spin-outs, and commercialization of research outputs.
- Overseeing the establishment and strengthening of research-related centers
- Organizing annual research and Innovation dissemination events.
- Ensuring full compliance with national and international ethical standards by facilitating timely ethical approval for all MZUNI-led or affiliated research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data.
Research Governance and Policies
- Mzuni Strategic Plan
- Post Graduate Policy
- Research Agenda
- IP Policy
- Research Policy
- Safety and compliance to regulations
Research Ethics
The Mzuzu University Research Ethics Committee (MZUNIREC) is one of the committees that is established in line with the MZUNI Research Policy and the National Commission for Science and Technology Regulatory Requirement for the Establishment of Research Ethics Committees in Malawi. The aim of MZUNIREC is to contribute towards fulfilling the requirements for the implementation of high quality and world-class research and development programs and activities at MZUNI. The major function of MZUNIREC is to promote research ethics by ensuring that research carried out by MZUNI Faculty members, staff, their collaborators and students meets the highest ethical and scientific standards.
Thus, MZUNIREC is a structure charged with a duty to review and approve all research proposals from Faculty members, staff, students and collaborators at MZUNI. Such a review aims at protecting the safety, rights and wellbeing of humans and animals in research. Thus a review shall ensure that all research studies and protocols at MZUNI meet the national and international ethical and scientific standards. Consequently, humans and animals that will participate in different research studies will be protected from risks and harm that are associated with some research activities. The protection of humans and animals as research subjects is enshrined in both the national and international ethical guidelines to which MZUNIREC conforms.
Directory of Research & Publications
Volumes profiling Mzuzu University academic staff and their research outputs (2019 → present). Download by volume.
Research Areas, Themes and Projects
Research Areas and Themes
- Humanities and social science
- Health
- Tourism , Hospitality and management
- Education
- Science, Technology and Innovation
- Environmental Sciences
Research Projects
| PROJECT LEAD | PROJECT | DURATION |
1 | Mr Master Chisale | Biotope 3 | 2023-2025 |
2 | Dr Benjamin Kondowe | IFS Ecological Health Project | 2024-2025 |
3 | Dr Frank Mnthambala | BIOGAS AND FERTILZER STUDY | 2024 |
4 | Mr Mathews Lambulira | GIZ IBC Project | 20/05/24 to 31/12/2024 |
5 | Dr Chrispin Gogoda | GIZ Energizing Devpt | 2024 to 2025 |
6 | Prof Fanuel Kapute | Killifish | 2023 to 2028 |
7 | Prof Fanuel Kapute | NCST Cage Culture | 2023 to 2025 |
8 | Dr Elijah Wanda | NCST – SGCI | 2023 to 2025 |
9 | Dr Baxter Chirambo | Nozgeka | 2023 to 2026 |
10 | Dr Chrispin Gogoda | Oxfam Clean Energy | April 2024 to Nov 2024 |
11 | Dr Baxter Chirambo | Pamodzi – Luke International | 2023 to 2024 |
12 | Dr Saul Mwale | Bean Rust | 2024 to 2025 |
13 | Dr Augistun Musukwa | ENESCO | 2023 to 2025 |
14 | Dr Edina Manda | UNESCO Science advancement | 2023 to 2025 |
15 | Dr Zandivuta Kankhuni | Muzi Ecosystem | 2023 to 2024 |
16 | Dr Mtafu Manda | ACIAR Africities | 2021 to 2024 |
17 | Dr Chrispin Gogoda | CESET | 2021 to 2024 |
18 | Dr Mtafu Manda | Chida – Lead Sea | 2021 to 2024 |
19 | Dr Lydia Kishindo | Commonwealth of Learning | 2022 to 2024 |
20 | Dr Brighton Chunga | FAR Leaf Basin Closure | 2022 to 2024 |
21 | Dr Eddie Mtonga | Global Sanitation Graduate School | 2020 to 2024 |
22 | Mr Emmanuel Banda | Green jobs for Adolescent youth | 2023 to 2025 |
23 | Dr Brighton Chunga | Red Cross Data Rescue and Digitisation | 2023 to 2024 |
24 | Dr Rachiel Fielder | NAGEL | 2021 to 2024 |
25 | Dr Brighton Chunga | NORHED | 2021 to 2026 |
26 | Dr Brighton Chunga | NAS- Peer Project | 2021 to 2024 |
28 | Dr Kumbukani Mzengeleza | PACT -Refresh | 2022 to 2024 |
29 | Dr Brighton Chunga | SADC GMI Ground Water | 2023 to 2024 |
30 | Dr Frank Mnthambala | SWIFT | 2023 to 2026 |
31 | Dr Kumbukani Mzengeleza | Tilapia Feed Development | 2022 to 2024 |
32 | Dr Mavuto Tembo | WB ACE II AF – ACENUB | 2022 to 2025 |
33 | Dr Winner Chawinga | WB SAVE | 2021 to 2026 |
34 | Dr Ferestus Mpasa | Afri-Health | 2022 to 2024 |
35 | Dr Chrispin Gogoda | ACTS (Women and Youth Led Energy) Project | 2024 TO 2026 |
36 | Mr Ezekial Namacha | UNDP Digital Governance Project | 2024 to 2025 |
37 | Dr Dr Baxter Chirambo | Victory Project | 2024 to 2026 |
Meet Our Team
Prof. Fanuel Kapute
Professor, Director of Research
Ms Faith Mwangonde
Research Ethics Administrator and Technology Transfer Officer Operations ( TTOO)
Wanagwa Kenneth Msowoya
Grants Writing Officer and Technology Transfer Officer Commercialization (TTOC)
Ms Grace Golosi
Personal Assistant
MZUNI Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
MZUNI established a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to streamline and enhance the technology transfer process. The TTO serve as a centralized hub for:
- Technology Identification: Systematically identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing technologies with commercialization potential through rigorous assessment and market analysis.
- IP Management: Providing expertise in intellectual property management, patent filings, licensing negotiations, IP valuation, and enforcement to protect and monetize innovations.
- Funding Facilitation: Facilitating access to funding sources, grants, venture capital, and investment opportunities to support technology maturation, market validation, and commercialization efforts.
- Industry Partnerships: Establishing strategic collaborations, partnerships, and technology transfer agreements with industry players, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to accelerate technology adoption and market entry.
Through the TTO, MZUNI aims to foster a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge transfer, driving economic growth, societal impact, and value creation from its research endeavors. The TTO play a pivotal role in translating research outcomes into tangible products, services, and solutions that address real-world challenges and benefit communities, industries, and the global marketplace.
Contact Information
Office location:
- House Number 11
- Private Bag 201