Dr. Mgwatu appointed Research Fellow at the University of South Africa
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) engineering don, Dr. Mussa Idd Mgwatu, has been appointed as a Research Fellow in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa (Unisa), it can proudly be reported.
According to the official appointment letter dated 15 March 2025, and signed by Prof. Thenjiwe Meyiwa, Unisa’s Vice Principal for Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, the prestigious fellowship—approved by the Executive Committee of the Senate (SENEX)—commenced on 1 April 2025 and will run through 31 March 2028.
“The purpose of the Research Fellow programme is to encourage critical discourse, enhance the Department’s research capacity, and increase the number of accredited publications attributed to the University,” the letter stated.
In his new role, Dr. Mgwatu is expected to make substantial contributions to this mission by publishing at least one article annually in a South African-accredited journal. He may also take on limited mentoring responsibilities for departmental staff and students.
Although the fellowship does not equate to formal employment with Unisa, it provides a significant opportunity for academic collaboration between Unisa and UDSM—strengthening cross-border partnerships in research and innovation.
Commending the appointment, UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Prof. Nelson Boniface, noted: “This appointment is a testament to Dr. Mgwatu’s academic leadership and the growing recognition of UDSM scholars on the global stage. We are proud of his accomplishments and confident that he will represent our University with excellence and integrity”.
Dr. Mgwatu is a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at UDSM’s College of Engineering and Technology (CoET). He holds a PhD in Engineering from UDSM, an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and a BSc in Engineering from UDSM.
His teaching and research interests include operations research, production planning, engineering reliability, manufacturing systems, and industrial automation.
He has gained international academic recognition as a Visiting Scholar at globally renowned institutions such as the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, Lehigh University in the USA, and the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
His academic excellence has been further acknowledged through multiple prestigious scholarships, including the Canadian Commonwealth, Fulbright, Swedish Institute, Sida-SAREC, and more.
Championing academic excellence and research integrity
Dr. Mgwatu has also held notable leadership positions within and outside UDSM. These include serving as Director of Research and Publication and Director of the Quality Assurance Bureau at UDSM, where he championed academic excellence and upheld the highest standards of research integrity.
He also served as Managing Director of Reli Assets Holding Company Limited (RAHCO), CEO of Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA), and Board Director at Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL).
He has played key roles in national development projects such as the feasibility and design study for the Tanzania Central Corridor Standard Gauge Railway; inspection and commissioning of diesel-electric locomotives for TRC; and overseeing the construction of the Government aircraft hangar at Msalato International Airport for the TGFA.
He was instrumental in the development of the Research Information Management System (RIMS) at UDSM under the Sida Research Management sub-programme.
Currently, he is a key partner in the ERASMUS+ CBHE project on digital transformation of science in Kenya and Tanzania, a collaborative initiative involving institutions from Tanzania, Kenya, Slovenia, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Reflecting on the honour, Dr. Mgwatu said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled by this appointment. It is a great opportunity to contribute to international academic collaboration while representing UDSM at a global level. Throughout my career, I have upheld values of hard work, humility, honesty, and perseverance—principles that have guided my journey as an educator, researcher, and leader”.
The University of Dar es Salaam congratulates Dr. Mgwatu on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to his continued impact in advancing knowledge, innovation, and academic collaboration across borders.