BIUST receives windfall to support graduate training
The Botswana International University of Science & Technology ( BIUST) - has participated in the implementation of the Science Granting Council Initiative ( SGCI).
The Science Granting Councils Initiative in Sub- Saharan Africa ( SGCI) is focused on strengthening the capacities of Science Granting Councils ( SGCs) in order to support research and evidence- based policies that will contribute to economic and social development in Sub- Saharan Africa.
Science Granting Councils are bodies or agencies in countries that support development and growth of science in those countries.
Here Professors Edison Muzenda ( PhD) from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology and Gizaw Mengistu Tsidu ( PhD) with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences OR Tambo Africa Research Chair- Climate Change break down how the university benefited from the SGCI and proposes the way forward.
BG: How has participation in the Science Granting Council Initiative influenced BIUST internal capacity to perform its functions?
BIUST: Research at BIUST is conducted largely through research networks and units, which include groups, chairs and centres. These units help in consolidating the use of resources in an optimal way, help build research culture and provide an environment for mentorship.
The participation in the Science Granting Council Initiative ( SGCI) provides direct research funding to researches and students. This has significantly motivated researchers, helped to strengthen research culture and improve innovative research at BIUST. For example, in the Coal beneficiation for the metallurgical industry project, funding has strengthened the Natural Resources Beneficiation and Sustainable Energy Research Group.
The Group is now well- established with senior professors, lecturers, and students. Additionally, as a result of participation in SGCI, BIUST has been awarded external funding of ZAR 15, 000, 000 over the next five ( 5) years.
In addition, our parent Ministry ( Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology ( MOTE)/ Department of Research Science and Technology ( DRST)) awarded 3.2 million Pula to BIUST to support graduate training under OR Tambo African Research Chair ( ORTARCHi) initiative.
Therefore BIUST will use the fund for research infrastructure development, research and graduate training.
BG: Has participation in the SGCI led to new partners, networks, coalitions or collaborations ( including projects and research)? If yes, please provide examples and the focus of the new partnerships/ collaborations/ projects.
BIUST: Yes, participating in the SGCI has led to a new collaboration opportunity with the University of Zimbabwe. The bilateral project between BIUST and the University of Zimbabwe focuses on Cola beneficiation for the metallurgical industry. Local networks especially with Botswana Geoscience Institute and Pyrocarbon Energy have been strengthened and have
become active and productive.
As a result of participation in SGCI and subsequent award of external and national grants ( i. e. ORTARCHi and MOTE funding), BIUST is one of the universities in the region which is selected through ORTARCHi chair to develop grand proposal entitled “Co- design of hydro- meteorological information system for sustainable water resources management in Southern Africa ( CO- HYDIM- SA)” in collaboration with institutions in Germany, South Africa and Namibia through competitive process.
The proposal development itself attracted 150, 000 EURO for the next year. BIUST will host planning workshop in April this year.
BG: As stated above, BIUST in partnership with the University of Zimbabwe is conducting research on mineral beneficiation. Kindly share with us the focus of the research
BIUST: The focus of the bilateral project “Coal Beneficiation for the Metallurgical Industry” is to establish a comprehensive Botswana and Zimbabwe coal database in which the coal and coal seam properties are catalogued.
Literature on the effects of process conditions on various types of coal with the aim to produce metallurgical coke that meets the required qualities will also be reviewed. This will include extensive research into the factors which improve coke properties.
Thereafter, extensive testing will be done on producing metallurgical coke using Botswana and Zimbabwe coals as feedstock. This experimental work will also include optimisation of the process conditions to maximise coke properties. The project objectives are: a) To characterise and/ or consolidate prop
erties of Botswana and Zimbabwe coals. This will be done by collecting this information from other organisations, in the case of Botswana, Botswana Geoscience Institute ( BGI), Morupule Mine and other existing and new coal seams. In cases where information is not available, local and regional laboratories will be used to carry out the analysis. b) To create a database of metallurgical coke properties and link them to different metallurgical processes. c) To perform characterisation tests on char/ coke samples produced in the lab. Most of these characterisation tests will be outsourced to reputable third- party laboratories. d) To investigate other potential applica
tion of char
e) To devise process routes to upgrade pyrolysis char to metallurgical coke grade. This will be the key area of the work where researchers will look at the char properties and desired metallurgical coke properties then devise process routes for the needed upgrade.
Known theoretical processes will be considered alongside novel ones from research articles.
BG: Have there been opportunities to inform/ influence policy processes? If yes, which policy processes and what were the outcomes?
BIUST: In the context of policy processes, there are two aspects of the initiative: one is about fund management and the other is about creating research units. The University was in the process of developing policies and guidelines on creating research units and management of research grants.
However, the SGCI catalysed the process and already the University has developed some policies and some groups are now very active such as Natural Resources Beneficiation and Sustainable Energy and Mineral Processing Groups.
These two groups received three ( 3) research project funding from SGCI). The two groups are doing quality and relevant research which is accessible to policy makers.
BG: Has there been a change in the funding/ investment levels as a result of your participation in the SGCI? Please describe any changes ( increase/ decrease) in the funding/ investment levels.
BIUST: The networks created by this initiative will be the platforms for collaborations on co- authorship, co- submission of proposals, co- supervision and collaboration with industries. All this will increase the opportunities for attracting more research funds and commercialisation of research outputs.
In the long term, it is expected that there will be an increase in external funded projects and decrease in the internally funded ones. In this way, the University will have extra funds devoted to institutional capacity development.
BG: Botswana, through the Botswana International University of Science and Technology ( BIUST), is among the first ten ( 10) SGCI member states to host a Research Chair under the OR Tambo Africa Research Chair Initiative ( ORTARCHi): Kindly share with us any projects carried out under this initiative