PRESS RELEASE NEW VICE CHANCELLOR

APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSOR WALES SINGINI AS VICE-CHANNCELLOR

The Mzuzu University Council is happy to
announce that it has pleased the President of the Republic of Malawi and Chancellor of Mzuzu University (MZUNI), His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, to approve its recommendation for the appointment of
Professor Wales Singini as the new Vice-Chancellor for MZUNI. The appointment is
with effect from 1st July, 2023.

Born on 3rd September in 1977, Professor Singini is an accomplished scholar who has distinguished himself and excelled in an exceptional way, achieving significant milestones in his 15-year academic trajectory with MZUNI. He started his academic career as a lecturer in 2009 and won a PhD scholarship in the same year. He successfully completed his PhD studies in a record time. He has enjoyed a rare and fast career growth having ascended progressively to the academic ranks of senior lecturer in 2013, associate professor in 2015 and full professor in 2020 based on achievements. He has held leadership positions of Head of Department, Dean of Faculty and Director of Research.

As part of teaching, Professor Singini has supervised more than 20 PhD students in the fields of fisheries and aquatic science, transformative community development and in environmental management at MZUNI and at external universities including Makerere University in Uganda, Texas Tech University in USA, University of Abomey Calavi in Benin, University of Eldoret in Kenya, University of Bukavu in DRC, University of Dakar in Senegal, Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and at Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA). He has also mentored 8 post-doctoral students at MZUNI and LUANAR.

As a scholar, Professor Singini has published more than 60 articles in high impact credible peer review journals such as Wiley, Applied Economics, Sustainability, Taylor and Francis, Springer, Elsevier, Aquaculture Research and Development and Frontiers, all indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. He has also contributed 3 book chapters and 20 conference proceedings. He is a reviewer for journals such as Wiley, African Journal of Rural Development, Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Malawi Journal of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Malawi Journal of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Development Studies.

Professor Singini has delivered key note addresses at the Annual Research Dissemination Conference organised by NCST and NPC, the international seminar on Societal Transformation and Climate Change: QES-AS Next Generation of Scholars hosted by Carleton University, Canada; and a panelist at the International Conference of the Parties (COP 26) hosted by Lancaster University, UK. On mobilisation of research and development funding and grants, Professor Singini has been the principal investigator, co-principal investigator and coordinator of more than 20 research and development projects to his record. Among these, he has led, attracted and secured large international research and development funding which include the $6.3 World Bank SAVE Project, $5.9m World Bank ACE II AF (ACENUB), MK350m NORHED Project, $1.2m USAID THES Project, $175 Thousand IDRC QES Project, $60,000 Carnegie Cooperation (USA) Project, $60,000 RUFORUM GRG Project and various small and medium projects with funding levels ranging from US$30,000 to US$400,000. These projects have attracted substantial funding and generated new knowledge, innovation and industrialisation to MZUNI and Malawi at large. In consultancy, he has been contracted and successfully delivered more than 70 consultancies with Government, development partners such as FAO, World Bank, USAID, EU, NEPAD, GIZ, international NGOs such as OXFAM, World Connect Malawi, DanChurchAid, PCTFI, CARE USA, UN-Habitant Water and Sanitation and with local NGOs such as Find Your Feet, CISANET, SOLDEV, CSC, ELDS, RUFA, EAM, CARD, SAT and CADECOM. He has chaired several committees within the University. Outside the University, he has served as chairperson of Northern Region Water Board Lunyangwa Dam Catchment Area Protection Steering Committee, member of: the NCHE TWG on Harmonised Public University Selection; Ministry of Education TWG, RUFORUM Deans Committee; the Council for the University of Livingstonia; the University of Malawi Senate; TVET for the Agriculture Sector in Africa (CAADP/ATVET); AfriFishNet; FARA; and CCARDESA. He has also represented MZUNI at high level forums such as the African Universities (AAU) vice-chancellors’ conference, RUFORUM Board and Deans Committee, SADC Joint Meeting of Ministers of Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation, Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD), Austrian-African Research Network Africa-UniNet, Presidential Delivery Unit Business Development Subcommittee on the Establishment of Mvera Innovation City, Committee of 10 Heads of State and Government (C10) Championing Education, Science and Technology; and Committee of Installation of the President of Malawi as Champion for Higher Education in Africa. Professor Wales Singini has a PhD in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, MSc in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science and BSc in Agriculture (Aquaculture) from the University of Malawi. Among many, he also possesses certificates in: Leadership and Management from AWARD LEPARD; Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation from European Commission Brussels; Knowledge Exchange and Engagement from Lancaster University UK; and Governance Capacity for Africa from Beijing China. The University Council is therefore delighted to welcome on board Professor Wales Singini as the new Vice-Chancellor and appeals to all stakeholders to support him as he assumes the leadership mantle in implementing the MZUNI 2021-30 Strategic Plan towards The MZUNI We Want by 2030.