Professor Ishmael B.M. Kosamu is a distinguished academic leader and scholar, currently serving as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Malawi MUBAS. In this pivotal role, he provides strategic leadership and operational management in close support of the Vice-Chancellor. His portfolio encompasses the oversight of all academic services and functions, driving excellence in research, innovation, and academic entrepreneurship. Professor Kosamu is instrumental in curriculum development and review, and in championing the re-engineering of university education. He is committed to developing robust governance structures and efficient management systems that align with national development goals as outlined in the Malawi 2063 vision, fostering Sustainable Human Capacity Development.
An accomplished academic, Professor Kosamu brings a wealth of experience from a progressive career at the University of Malawi, which culminated in his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of its successor institution, MUBAS, in June 2022. His prior leadership roles include Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Head of the Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, and positions as Associate Professor and Professor of Environmental Management. This extensive background has provided him with deep insights into academic administration, faculty development, and institutional governance.
Professor Kosamu’s academic credentials are firmly rooted in the environmental sciences. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Science from Leiden University and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science in the same field from the University of Malawi, The Polytechnic. His expertise spans a wide spectrum of critical areas, including Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Climate Change Policy and Management, Biodiversity, Fisheries Policy, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
His scholarly impact is demonstrated through a substantial publication record, featuring over 60 articles in credible, Web of Science-indexed journals, alongside numerous book chapters and technical reports. Professor Kosamu is also a key figure in numerous high-stakes international projects. He currently serves as the Malawi National Coordinator for the 2020-2026 V2V Global Partnership, a US$7.3 million transdisciplinary project involving 95 scientists and practitioners across 22 countries. Furthermore, he coordinates the five-year EnergyNet Project, a Norwegian-funded research network of seven African universities with a grant of 22 million Norwegian Kroner, and has successfully led other internationally funded initiatives such as the NORAD-funded Energy and Petroleum Project.
His expertise is sought after at the highest levels of global environmental governance. Professor Kosamu acts as a National Expert for several global conventions, including the Basel, Stockholm, and Rotterdam Conventions, the Minamata Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. He also serves as the National Rapporteur for Malawi’s National State of the Environment and Outlook Report and has contributed as a member of the Needs Assessment Team for the EU-funded project to establish Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centres of Excellence in Africa.
He is an active member of several prestigious international professional bodies, including the International Association of Impact Assessment (IAIA), the African Climate Policy Centre of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Professor Kosamu’s vision for MUBAS is to transform it into “a leading centre of academic innovation and entrepreneurial excellence with prestigious relevance to society at national, regional, and global levels.” Beyond his professional pursuits, he enjoys reading and jogging.
