Prof. O.D. Mwandemele
About
Prof. Osmund D. Mwandemele is the Vice Chancellor at The International University of Management. He is also Professor of Plant Genetics and Breeding. He holds BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees from the University of Dar es Salaam, and PhD (1983) from the University of Sydney, Australia. Prof Mwandemele was Founding Director (2003-2006) of the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (a UNU-INRA Operating Unit whose Board he chairs) at Henties Bay, Namibia, and Founding Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Namibia (1995-2003). He has held academic and administrative positions at Egerton University in Njoro, Kenya, and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Among his awards and recognitions, Prof. Mwandemele is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding; a Founding Member of the College of Research Associates of the United Nations University Institute of Natural Resources in Africa; an Honorary Professor at the Czech University of Agriculture Prague; and Scientific Advisor to the International Foundation for Science. He also chairs the Steering Committee of the Southern Africa Network of Biosciences (SANBio) (2005- todate) and is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (2008-May 2013) on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Action for Development; and Chairman of the Steering Committee of Biosciences, Finnish-South Africa (BIOFISA) Project coordinated by SANBio, based at CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa (2009-2012).
As Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at the University of Namibia, Prof. Mwandemele is the University Senate Vice-Chairperson, and also chairs a number of Council and Senate Committees which include the Academic Planning Committee, Staff Development Committee, Admissions and Examinations Committee, Staff Appointments Committee, Library and Information Technology Committee, Research and Publications Committee, the Board of the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, etc., Recently he was nominated to serve on the Council of the Eastern and Southern African Universities Research Programme (ESAURP); He is also serving as the Country Director for a Rice Project in Namibia, funded by the Japanese Government through JICA involving Namibian and Japanese Research Scientists. Prof Mwandemele is the author or co-author of numerous scholarly articles.
Related Links:
Everyday Leadership – Video Interview
United Nations Univeristy – Profile
University of Namibia – GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Awards & Recognitions
| Elected Fellow | Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 1989. |
| Selected as Founding Member | College of Research Associates, United Nations University Institute of Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) 1999. |
| Honorary Professor | Czech University of Agriculture Prague, Czech Republic. |
| Scientific Advisor | International Foundation for Science (IFS) 2002- to date |
| Chairman | Steering Committee of the NEPAD Southern Africa Network of Biosciences (SANBio), 2005-to-date. |
| Member | Ministerial Advisory Committee on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa, 2008-31 May 2013. |
| Member | Board of Directors of the Women’s Action for Development (WAD), and NGO, 2007-to-date. |
| Chairman | Steering Committee for BioFISA Project, a multimillion dollar project for Southern Africa, financed jointly by both Finland and South Africa for the NEPAD’s Southern Africa Network for Biosciences, 2008-2012. |
| Member | Supervisory Board for BioFISA Project, other members are from DST of South African Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and NEPAD, 2008-2012. |
| Street Name | In 2010 the Town of Henties Bay gave a street name, “Osmund Mwandemele Avenue”, in honour of the excellent work emanating from contributions towards the establishment of a new University Research Centre, “the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre” which also initiated several community projects which benefitted the local communities along the coast. |
| Member | Advisory Council of the Eastern and Southern African Universities Research Programme (ESAURP), from January 2013 for three years. |
| Member | Appointed by the Namibian State President, H.E. Dr. H. Pohamba to serve on a 9-member Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) from 03 May 2013 for three years. |
Experience
University of Namibia (UNAM), and Chairman of a number
University Committees, including some of Council and Senate.
2003-2006 Founding Director, Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources
Research Centre of UNAM, Henties Bay, Namibia.
1995-2003 Founding Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
University of Namibia.
1994-1995 Director, Graduate School, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya.
1994-To date Professor, Plant Genetics and Breeding, Egerton University/UNAM
1990-1994 Associate Professor, Plant Genetics and Breeding, Egerton
University
1988-1990 Associate Dean (Admin.), Faculty of Science, University of Dar Es
Salaam, Tanzania
1985-1990 Senior Lecturer, University of Dar Es Salaam
1981-1985 Lecturer, University of Dar Es Salaam
1978-1981 Assistant Lecturer, University of Dar Es Salaam
Media
Publications
Mshigeni, K E, Mwandemele, O D and J van Harmelen, 2001. ZERI Namibia Henties Bay Coastal Zone Development Project: An Update. In K E Mshigeni and E Bisanda (eds.) Proc. of the Fourth Annual World ZERI Congress, held in Windheoek, Namibia, 14- 17 Oct.1998. Pg 282-287
Molloy, F J, Mwandemele, O D, Mshigeni, K E and Chang S T, 2001. Turning a Low – Value Brewery Waste into a High- value Oyster Mushroom Crop in Namibia. In K E Mshigeni and E Bisanda (eds.) Proc. of the Fourth Annual World ZERI Congress, held in Windhoek, Namibia, 14-17 Oct.1998. Pg 71-74.
Mwandemele, O D and K E Mshigeni, 2000. Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI) Integrated Bio-systems Applied to Challenges in the SADC Region. In K E Mshigeni, et al. (eds.) Opportunities from Africa’s Bio-resources. Proceedings of the second International Training Workshop in Africa on the Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI), Dar es Salaam, 12-24 April, 1998 ( 160-166).
Mshigeni, K E., A Critchley, O D Mwandemele, and F Molly, 2000. Unrealised Wealth in Africa’s Aquatic Resources, with special reference to the development of a marine centre of excellence in Henties Bay, Namibia. In K E Mshigeni, et al. (eds.) Revitalising Science and Technology Focus in Africa. University of Namibia, Windhoek.
Mwandemele, O D and K E Mshigeni, 2002. Science and Technology Focus in Africa: Innovations from the University of Namibia. In Proceedings of the Science in Africa Symposium, held 17-18 October 2001, Somerset West, South Africa, pp 193-199.
Ngwira, T N and O D Mwandemele, 2001. Teaching Quality Assessment as a means of Improving Regional Training Programmes. In Proceedings of a workshop on Postgraduate Training for Improving Agricultural Production, Products, Food Security and Household Income in SADC Countries. University of Pretoria, SA, 26-28 September, 2001, pp 35-40.
Fabiano, E., K E Mshigeni and O D Mwandemele, 2002. University Science and Technology Education and Economic Development. In Savage M. and P. Naidoo (eds.) Popularisation of Science and Technology: Some Case Studies from Africa. Commonwealth Secretariat, London. pp33-47.
Mwandemele, O D 2002. Presenting the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Vision of the Namibia University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (NUCA). University of Nagoya's International Cooperation in Agriculture, Vol. 1: 15-27.
Mshigeni, K. E., Mohamed, M. and O. D. Mwandemele, 2003.The Water Hyacinth Crisis in Africa: A Potential Socio-Economic Opportunity for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods. Editorial for Vol. 14, No. 3/4 Discovery and Innovation Journal.
Mwandemele, O. D. 2005. Development of an Agriculture Degree Programme at the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of The Gambia, FAO Project TCP/GAM/2905, an Expert report submitted to FAO, May 2005.
Mshigeni, K. E., L. Hangula, and O. D. Mwandemele, 2005. Nostalgic reflections from a visit to the Namib Desert in Namibia: A Biological, Ecological, and Palaeontological Wonderland. An Editorial: Discovery and Innovation Journal, Vol. 17 Nos.1&2:1-7
Mwandemele, O. D., K. E Mshigeni, P. Kosina and C. Kamburona, 2006. Challenges of domesticating wild plants: The case of the Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum spp.). Discovery and Innovation Journal, Vol. 18 No. 3: 175-181
Gwanama, C., Kanyomeka, L., Mwandemele, O.D. & F. Mubiana (2009): Evaluating wheat cultivars’ performance for salinity tolerance in desert soils of the coastal areas of Namibia. Namibia Development Journal Vol.2 No.1:1-8
Awala, S.K., Nanhapo, P., Kanyomeka, L., Sakagami, J., Mwandemele, O.D., Iipinge, S., Izumi, Y., Suzuki, T., and Iijima, M. 2009a. Potential for rice cultivation in seasonal wetlands and Zambezi river flood plains in Namibia. Japanese J. Crop Sci. 78 (Extra Issue 1): 10-11.
Awala, S.K., Nanhapo, P. I., Sakagami, J., Kanyomeka, L., Mwandemele, O. D. and Iijima, M. (2009b): Rice production assessment in a saline affected seasonal wetland, Oshana, in north-central Namibia, Japanese J. Crop Sci. 78 (Extra Issue 1): 12-13.
Kanyomeka, L., Shiimi, E.M., Awala, S.K., Mwandemele, O.D. and Iijima, M. 2009. Seasonal variations in the performance of rice genotypes grown in North-Central Namibia: Proceedings of the 13th Agricultural Scientific Society of Namibia (AGRISSON) Congress, 1- 2 July 2009, Oshakati, Namibia: pp49 – 56 (Peer Reviewed Conference).
Suzuki T., Hiyama T., Kanyomeka L., Mwandemele O.D & M. Iijima, 2009:
Preliminary Results on Energy Balance of Seasonal Wetland in Northern Namibia: Towards the Water Use Assessment to Introduce Rice Cropping. Proceedings of the 13th Agricultural Scientific Society of Namibia (AGRISSON) Congress, 1- 2 July 2009, Oshakati, Namibia; pp 57 – 68 (Peer Reviewed Conference).
Awala, S., Nanhapo, P., Kanyomeka, L., Sakagami, J., Mwandemele, O.D., Iipinge, S., Izumi, Y., Suzuki, T., and Iijima, M., 2009. Performance selected Rice cultivars in seasonal wetlands and Zambezi river flood plains in Namibia. Plant Prod. Sci.
Jia, L., Shigwedha, N. and Mwandemele, O. D. 2009. Use of Dacid-, Dbile-, Zacid-, and Zbile- Values in Evaluating Bifidobacteria with Regard to Stomach pH and Bile Salt Sensitivity. J. Food Science (On Line Journal): Vol. 75, Nr.1, M14-M18.
Suzuki, T., Ohta, T., Izumi, Y., Kanyomeka, L., Mwandemele, O., Sakagami, J. and Iijima, M. 2011. Larger biomass coverage enables high water use efficiency especially in semi-arid regions. Japanese J. Crop Science:80 (Extra2): 264-265.
Suzuki, T., Ohta, T., Izumi, T., Kanyomeka, L., Mwandemele, O., Sakagami, J., Yamane, K., Iijima, M. 2013. Role of canopy coverage in water use efficiency of lowland rice in early growth period in semi-arid region. Plant Production Science:16 (1):12-23.