Dr. Timothy Chadza provides strategic and academic leadership for the Mechanical Engineering Department at MUBAS. His responsibilities encompass the development and implementation of departmental plans, curricula, and budgets, while ensuring the maintenance of high academic standards. He actively fosters research, consultancy, and outreach initiatives, supports staff development, and builds vital partnerships with government, industry, and international institutions to advance the department's mission and impact.
A highly qualified engineer, Dr. Chadza holds a PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and an MSc in Mobile Communication Systems from Loughborough University in the UK. His expertise bridges several critical fields, including Energy Engineering, Telecommunications, Automobile Engineering, and Computer Network Security. This interdisciplinary knowledge informs both his leadership and his research.
An active researcher, Dr. Chadza has a strong publication record in reputable international journals and conference proceedings. His work focuses on innovative areas such as using hidden Markov models for predicting multi-stage cyber-attacks and the deployment of wireless sensor networks for precision agriculture and renewable energy monitoring in Malawi. His leadership extends to various university committees, including serving as Deputy Chairperson of the MUBAS Institution Integrity Committee.
Dr. Chadza’s vision for the department is to provide excellence in teaching, learning, research, consultancy, and outreach services within the field of mechanical engineering, contributing to national development and technological innovation.
Overview
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest and most strategic academic units within the School of Engineering. The Department is dedicated to developing highly skilled engineering professionals capable of designing, manufacturing, operating, and maintaining machines, industrial systems, and energy production and management systems that serve societal and economic needs.
The Department delivers high-quality teaching, research, consultancy, and outreach services in the broad areas of mechanical, energy, automotive, and industrial engineering. Its academic and research activities are closely aligned with Malawi 2063, particularly the pillars of Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation and Industrialisation, ensuring that graduates and innovations directly contribute to national development priorities.
Academic Programmes
The Department offers a comprehensive range of programmes across postgraduate, undergraduate, and diploma levels, designed to produce industry-ready graduates and research-driven professionals.
Postgraduate Programmes
- PhD / MPhil in Sustainable Energy
- PhD / MPhil in Industrial Management
- PhD / MPhil in Infrastructure Development and Management
- Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Energy
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Undergraduate Honours Degree Programmes
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Automobile Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Energy Engineering
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Industrial Engineering
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Diploma Programmes
- Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- Diploma in Automobile Engineering
- Diploma in Fabrication and Welding Engineering
Professional and Internationally Accredited Programmes
- City & Guilds (UK) in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering
- City & Guilds (UK) in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles
Departmental Uniqueness
As Malawi’s only Mechanical Engineering Department, the Department occupies a unique national role and makes distinctive contributions through:
- A strong emphasis on practical competence, supported by compulsory industrial attachment
- Development of engineering solutions tailored to Malawi’s industrial, environmental, and socio-economic context
- Significant contributions to national development through applied research and consultancy in the automotive, manufacturing, energy, transport, water, and infrastructure sectors
- Integration of innovation, problem-based learning, and entrepreneurial skills to promote self-employment and job creation
- Production of a technically competent and professional workforce to support Malawi’s long-term engineering and technological growth
Teaching, Research, and Industry Engagement
The Department adopts a practice-oriented approach to engineering education, combining strong theoretical foundations with hands-on training, industry collaboration, and applied research. Through consultancy services, industry partnerships, and outreach activities, the Department actively engages with public and private sector institutions to address real-world engineering challenges.
Laboratories and Workshops
The Department is supported by seven well-equipped laboratories and workshops that serve not only Mechanical Engineering programmes but also other departments within the School of Engineering, the School of Science and Technology, and specialised centres across the University.
Key facilities include:
- Thermo-fluids and materials properties testing laboratories
- Thermo-fluids and control systems laboratories
- Fitting and fabrication workshops
- A fully equipped machine shop for turning, boring, shaping, grinding, gear cutting, and thread cutting
- Motor vehicle engineering workshop for diagnostics, maintenance, and repair
- Welding and fabrication training facilities
- Computer laboratory for CAD/CAE, programming, design modelling, and simulation
These facilities play a critical role in strengthening practical skills training across Malawi’s technical education sector. They have supported major national initiatives, including the production of hand-held tractors under the Agricultural Machinery Production Project within the Public Sector Investment Programme, directly contributing to Malawi 2063 Pillar 1: Agricultural Productivity and Commercialisation.
In addition, the Department’s workshops serve as a hub for commercial and consultancy activities, including automotive maintenance and manufacturing services delivered through the Engineering Technology Service Centre and the Mechanical Engineering Resource Mobilisation Initiative.
Contribution to National Development
Through its academic programmes, research output, consultancy services, and innovation-driven activities, the Department of Mechanical Engineering remains a critical contributor to Malawi’s industrial growth, energy transition, and infrastructure development agenda.