PROFESSOR AZWIHANGWISI EDWARD NESAMVUNI

PERSONAL DETAILS

Limpopo Department of Agriculture
Private Bag X 9487, Polokwane 0700
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Mobile: 082 924 9898
Phone: (015) 294 3533

QUALIFICATIONS
He matriculated at Mbilwi High School in 1982 with matric Exemption. He graduated from the following universities; B.Sc. Agric, Univ. of Natal (1989); B. Sc. Agric. (Hons.) Cum Laude, Univ. of Fort Hare (1990); M. Sc. Agric., Univ. of Fort Hare (1993); Ph.D. Oklahoma State University (1995).

He holds nine short-course certificates on teaching and research awarded by national and international universities. He also won eight awards and prizes for merit coupled with seven years of National Research Foundation Research Grant Awards from 1997 to 2003.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

He is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist, by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions; Reg. No. 400067/00 in the field of Animal Science. He is a member of the South African Society of Animal Science; Grassland Society of Southern Africa, and the South African Society of Agricultural Extension.

AWARDS AND PRIZES
He is a Fulbright Scholar. In his academic career he won many prices, which include among others; Shell scholarship, J.L. Irvine Rumevite Award, Fort Hare Foundation Merit Award, Boeresake Gold Medal, United Nations Scholarship Award. From 1996 to 2003 he attracted research grants from the National Research Foundation. He was appointed Project Leader of the Study of the Agricultural Industry in the Limpopo by the MEC of Agriculture. He has won the South African – Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD) Grant. He was appointed Land Bank Research Chair in 2002 / 2003 academic year at the University of Venda.

APPOINTMENTS
• He held positions of Junior Lecturer and Dean’s Assistantship at the Universities of Venda and Fort Hare from 1989 and 1992 respectively.
• In 1996 he rejoined the University of Venda for Science & Technology as Senior Lecturer - Department of Animal Science; He was appointed Head of Department in 1998, Deputy Dean of the School of Agriculture, and Rural Development & Forestry in 1999 and served as Dean of the School from January 2002 till July 2002. He was appointed Associate Professor & Director of the Centre for Rural Development in August 2002. The position he held until he joined the Department of Science & Technology as Director in May 2004.
• He was appointed Senior Manager: Agricultural Research Services in July 2005, concurrently as Acting General Manager: District Services, Extension & Research. He was appointed General Manager: District Services, Research & Extension in April 2006. The position was changed to Research & Training in October 2007. The University of the Free State appointed him Professor Extraordinary associated with the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture from August 2005. He was appointed Acting Senior General Manager: Agricultural Development Services in September 2008.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

• The then Minister of Agriculture, Ms Thokho Didiza appointed him to serve on the Board of the Agricultural Research Council (1997 – 2003).
• He was also appointed by the former Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal to serve on the Ministerial Project Committee for the development of National Curriculum Statements FET Grade 10 to 12.
• Professor Nesamvuni has been a representative of the SAUVCA on the National Standard Body (01-Agriculture and Nature Conservation) from 1999 to January 2003.

• The ex Minister of Agriculture Lulu Qingwana appointed him to serve on the National Agricultural Education & Training Forum Executive Committee from 2007 to 2009. He has been appointed to an office of ELDER and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE at the Charis Missionary Church, in charge of development projects (2000 to present).

PUBLICATIONS
He published 37 papers to scientific proceedings nationally and 17 papers to scientific proceedings internationally in mainly Animal Science, Pasture Science & Agricultural Extension. He also published 10 scientific papers and seven research reports in the field of Animal Science. He has contributed three chapters in books and written four thesis documents towards his Doctoral Qualification.

STUDENT SUPERVISION
He managed to supervise four HONOURS students, 16 MASTERS students and one Doctoral student. He examined three PhD and 10 Masters Students from various universities and technikons. He currently supervises 10 Masters Students and five PhD students.

CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES

He is Head of the Department as well as General Manager for Research and Training


INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Professor Nesamvuni has visited several countries on teaching, research and development programmes. Some of these countries include Australia, Belgium, China, Ethiopia, France, India, Israel, Malawi, Netherlands, Scotland, South Korea, Swaziland, USA and Zimbabwe.