NEWS:

3 Jun, 2015


Professor Timothy Gondwe

Timothy Nthaziyake Pearson Gondwe has been appointed Visiting Professor of SRUC, a Scottish Rural College based in Edinburgh, Scotland with effect from June 2015. The appointment is in recognition of on-going and active academic collaboration with staff of SRUC. In a letter dated 3rd June from the Acting Chief Executive and Principal of SRUC, the appointed follows a unanimous approval of the Appointment and Remuneration Committee of SRUC.

Among other things, Professor Timothy Gondwe has had long term collaboration with SRUC since 2008, initiated through correspondences with Dr. Mizeck Chagunda, former faculty member in the Animal Science Department. Dr. Chagunda, and later joined by his boss, Dr. Dave Roberts and subsequently staff members from SRUC Dumfries Dairy Research Center, developed and implemented dairy projects funded by Scottish Government International Development Fund (SGIDF) under the Malawi – Scotland Partnership program (MSP). Two projects focused on small holder dairy optimizing and capacity building including establishment of a diploma program in Dairy Science and Technology. The projects resulted in capacity building of four staff members in the Animal Science Department (to MSc levels) and one from Government; staff short term training and exchange, development of ‘sms’ recording for dairy cattle, cow chart monitoring performance, and several joint publications between LUANAR and SRCU. In recognition of the joint collaboration, an MOU was signed between SRUC and LUANAR, and this spread project collaboration to staff members of LUANAR and SRUC beyond the Department of Animal Science, and the staff capacity building to PhD.

Professor Gondwe conveys gratitude to Dr. Mizeck Chagunda, Reader at the SRUC for continuous support to his former institution, LUANAR and to the country through which we have seen linkages to exploit UK base research funds. Dr. Dave Roberts, boss to Dr. Chagunda has provided wonderful support to Dr. Chagunda efforts, to such an extent that he facilitated many linkages between LUANAR and Scotland institutions including the University of Edinburgh. A few dairy initiatives being implemented in Malawi are a result of the LUANAR – SRUC collaboration.

Timothy Gondwe is Professor of Animal Breeding and is currently Principal of NRC Campus of LUANAR.