Mr Michael Mutingi: Lecturer in the School of Engineering
Brief: Won the Best Emerging Researcher of the Year Award in the School of Engineering
You recently received the Best Researcher of the Year Award in the School of Engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology(NUST) Research Day 2015. Please tell us about that. Indeed, it was an honor to receive the Best Emerging Researcher of the Year Award, both in the Institution, and in the School of Engineering. I feel encouraged and inspired by such an award.
Please give us your take on methods to enhance institutional research as well as increasing the number of research publications? Industry-academia collaboration is crucial to successful and sustainable research output. This, eventually, attracts and promotes funding to resource further research activities in the institution. The institution can also open up more funding to resource research activities. Researchers should be rewarded and acknowledged in one way or the other.
Do you think the NUST students realize the important of research, how would you encourage student participation in research? Students are fellow researchers. As such, engaging them in our practical research work in form of projects and theses is highly beneficial.
What would you consider to be your most successful contribution to research at the Institution? Among other research contributions, I managed to author 1 book in the area of healthcare management science.
Looking back at the last 20 years of the Namibia University of Science and Technology, do you think research has come a long way, and what would you expect from NUST, taking into consideration that enhancing research is one of the priority change areas for the institution? Over the years, NUST has taken appreciable efforts to enhance research at the institution. However, a more spirited effort is expected to achieve competitive research output, regionally and internationally.
Success Quote: “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety nine percent perspiration” - Thomas Alva Edison (11 February 1847 – 18 October 1931)