DIRECTORY OF RESEARCH

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MALAWI

1968 – 1999

Compiled and Edited by Augustine W. C. Msiska

CHANCELLOR COLLEGE, ZOMBA

contents

 | foreword | figure | preface | acknowledgements | acronyms | 
| directory listings | addenda |

 

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DIRECTORY

  

ADDENDA

 

 

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FOREWORD

The Research and Publications Committee (RPC) of the University of Malawi is the Committee of Senate responsible for providing research direction and policy. Research usually involves spending considerable sums of money. It is expensive. Besides, it takes a lot of effort as the researcher attempts to find solutions to problems that have been identified in stated “objectives”. At the end of the research, some answers are found, but usually also, there are new questions to address. This further spurs the generation of ideas and information.

The University RPC continues to recognise the need to provide up-to-date information sources on past and current research. The last Research Inventory was compiled in October 1995.It contained descriptions of 421 projects undertaken between 1985 and 1994. In the Preface of this Directory, it has been mentioned that there are now 1,056 entries in the present compilation spanning from 1968 to 1999.Figure 1 shows how the research projects have been distributed amongst the various institutions within the University of Malawi. It is hoped that the Directory will assist researchers to identify areas in which duplication of effort is avoided. It will also stimulate further research in areas already covered. In this respect, the RPC intends to up-date this Directory on a biennial basis.

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The stakeholders on whose behalf the research was being carried out need to know the outcome and what follow-up action may sometimes be necessary. Dissemination of research findings is, therefore, an essential part of the research cycle.  Research results that are unknown to others cannot be expected to be of any use and the impact of the work that has been achieved at such great effort is thereby extremely reduced.
The University of Malawi RPC has so far undertaken to sponsor three journals of international standing: the Journal of Humanities, the Malawi Journal of Social Science, and the Malawi Journal of Science and Technology. In the past year, the Journal of Development Education was approved by the RPC and Malilime: Malawian Journal of Linguistics has again been added this year, with Volume 1 already on the market by August 1999. These journals should be able to cater for a variety of interests in providing an avenue for dissemination. They are also avenues for publishing by any other concerned sections of the society outside the University, both within Malawi and internationally.
 

Eston Y. Sambo (PhD)

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COORDINATOR

October 1999

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PREFACE

A total of one thousand and fifty-six (1,056) research projects have been included in this Directory. Apart from the responses made to the questionnaire sent to members of administrative and academic staff, the Directory has also drawn extensively from other directories or lists compiled by the University of Malawi units at different times in the past.Of great significance among these have been the following: Directory of Research at the University of Malawi, 1968-1992, Research and Publications Profile, 1980-1993, and Two Decades of Social Research: A Directory, 1979-1999; Dedicated to the Twentieth Anniversary of the Centre for Social Research, compiled by Paul Kakhongwe (April 1992 and January 1999, respectively); University of Malawi’s Research and Publications Committee’s Research Inventories (September 1994 and October 1995); the University of Malawi’s Centre for Educational Research and Training’s Author Catalogue of Publications, held in CERT Documentation Unit (February 1996), and Research and Publications by CERT Staff, 1991-1997, compiled by Percy B. Mwachumu; Bunda College of Agriculture’s Center for Agricultural Research and Development (APRU): List of Research Projects, compiled by Frank Ngaiyambe (Bibliography Series, no. 1, June 1997; and earlier research lists compiled by the Research and Publications Committee, and the Malawi Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre.
 

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Each project or entry is analysed under the following headings
 

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The research projects have been listed under the five constituent colleges of the University of Malawi and their research centres. In turn, under each college or research centre, the projects have been listed alphabetically by Author (personal name or corporate body or institution). An Author Index has been provided and the numbers appearing against the Authors are not page, but project numbers. Provision has also been made for See and See Also cross references.

However, in order to promote increased access to information, the Directory has been produced through the creation of the University of Malawi Research Directory (UNIMARD) database. Full search facilities are available via the use of the database, including Authors, and title key words.

UNIMARD database utilises the CDS/ISIS software and the National Documentation Centre (NDC) database format. Although the master database is situated at Chancellor College Library, copies can be made available to all interested parties on receipt of a High Density Diskette.Non-CDS/ISIS users can be supplied with the database on condition that they register with NDC as a user of CDS/ISIS.

It is hoped to update the Directory from time to time, depending upon the volume of research being undertaken and the availability of funds.

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Acknowledgements

This exercise has been made possible through a research grant by the Chancellor College Research and Publications Committee and to which I am greatly indebted. I would like to acknowledge the co-operation and enthusiasm demonstrated by those members of staff who responded to the questionnaire. In general, I would like to register my deepest appreciation to individuals and institutions for the various directories and lists I have used to complement this work. I also wish to pay tribute particularly to the works of Paul Kakhongwe of the Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi.

Furthermore, without the understanding and co-operation of Mrs. Joana Phiri, Secretary in Chancellor College Librarian’s Office, this publication could not have become a reality. She tirelessly laboured to get the manuscript in readable form, without a murmur. Additionally, I must also thank Messrs Noel Jambo, James B. Chalera, and Matthias L. Chiwaya, Assistant Librarian/ Automation & Periodicals, Chief Library Assistant and Senior Library Assistant, respectively in Chancellor College Library for their computer expertise.

Finally, I am indebted to Professor R.L. Broadhead for the proof-reading of the College of Medicine entries at its Blantyre Campus. In the same vein, I must thank the following for their encouragement and moral support: Mr. S.S. Mwiyeriwa, University Librarian, Dr. A.J.D. Ambali, Chairperson for both the Chancellor College and University of Malawi-Wide Research and Publications Committees, and Dr. E.Y. Sambo, University of Malawi Research Co-ordinator.

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List of Some Acronyms and Abbreviations

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