The Network Has the Following Organs

Deadline6 June 2017

MSSEESA Self-evaluation
For the NODES
The MSSEESAnetwork will during 2017 be evaluated by external evaluators. The main purpose of this self-evaluation is to provide the evaluators with a basic understanding of MSSEESA, its nodes and activities.This form should be sent in word format to ISP no later than 6 June, 2017.

1. Organization

a) Contact information
Name of Node Coordinator
Dr. Margaret Emmanuel Samiji
Location
Department/unit: Physics
University/institute: University of Dar es Salaam
Contact
Email: ,
Phone office: +255222410258
Phone mobile: +255784481889

b) Briefly describe the organization of the network and working order among network and node coordinators.

The Network has the following organs:

I: The Coordinating Board (CB) whose members comprise University Coordinators. Representative of each funding agency may be invited as an ex-officio member. The Coordinating Board is the highest decision making body of MSSEESA. Functions of the CB are

(a) To approve the dates, venue, agenda and programme for the annual meeting;

(b) To consider applications for membership;

(d) To approve budget and activities of the Network;

(e) To formulate, revise wherever appropriate and oversee the implementation of the policies of the Network;

(f) To approve common rules and regulations governing the administrative and financial management of MSSEESA;

(g) To consider and approve annual audit and other financial reports;

(h) To enter into Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements with institutions, organizations and funding agencies;

(i) To grant observer status to any individual, institution or organization to attend the annual meeting upon such terms as the MSSEESA deems appropriate;

(j) To determine the membership status (i.e. eligibility suspension, withdrawal, ceasation) of a member;

(k) To audit the activities of the Network;

(l) To formulate rules and regulations;

(m) In charge of the assets of the Network;

(n) To solicit resources for the Network

II The Advisory Committee.(AC), whose membership comprise Deans of relevant Faculties/Schools of a university and a representative of each funding agency. The functions of the Advisory Committee shall include:

(a) To advise on deliberation(s) of the Coordinating Board vis-à-vis the policies of the respective universities and respective funding agencies;

(b) To liaise with both the Chief Coordinator and respective Universities in order to smoothly implement the functions of the Coordinating Board;

III. COORDINATION STRUCTURE This is the Coordinating Office of the Network. The office bearers of the Coordinating Office are Chief Coordinator, and The Secretary/Treasurer. The functions of the Coordinating Office include:

(a) To formulate and programme annual activities and budget and submitting them to the Coordinating Board for approval;

(b) To oversee the execution of approved activities of the Network according to budgetary outline as approved by the Coordinating Board;

(d) To coordinate scientific meetings of the Network including workshops, symposia, colleges, and training courses;

(e) To prepare, publish and distribute the Network Newsletter and other information materials pertinent to MSSEESA;

(f) To oversee the administration of MSSEESA website;

(g) To organize a meeting of the Advisory Board.should the need arise and funding position allow, and with the approval of the Coordinating Board.

MSSEESA Coordinating Office shall be located at the country of residence of the Chief Coordinator for a maximum period of three (3) years, and it shall rotate amongst the member countries. The Coordinating Office shall be registered as a sub-regional network in each member state.

IV University Coordinating Office (UCO) This is in each member university. The location of UCO shall be at the campus of the respective university. The functions of the UCO are

(a) To oversee the implementation of MSSEESA activities in the respective University;

(b) To prepare and submit to the Coordinating Office annual progress, and financial reports for the respective University

c) List all staff in your research group/department involved in the MSSEESA network activities.

Gender (F/M) / Given name, family name / Position held/ Function / Staff qualifications
PhD Other Ac. Supp.
F / Margaret Emmanuel Samiji / Coordinator / Ö
M / Joseph Buchweishaija / Secretary/Treasurer / Ö
M / Nuru Ramadhani Mlyuka / Member / Ö
M / Nathaniel Komba / Member / Ö
F / Grace Kinunda / Member / Ö
M / Phillip Yoeza / Member / Ö
M / Justine John / Member / Ö
M / Lwitiko Pholds / Member / Ö
M / Mussa Mohamed / Member / Ö
M / Halfan Mtelela / Member / Ö
M / Egidius Rwenyagila / Member / Ö / Ö

2. Historical overview and current situation

Descriptionof MSSEESA

a) Provide a brief history of the Network. (Including how the network started, how it has developed and the current situation.)

The Solar Energy Group was formally formed in 1977 with two of its former International Program in the Physical Sciences (IPPS) participants. The goal of the group focused mainly on the building of human and infrastructure capacity in advanced studies on materials sciences and solar energy. For many years the group has established active links with a number of institutions within and outside the region. The group has had active link with the department of Technology, Uppsala University, Sweden. Other cooperation with universities in the region include, Nairobi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Moi and Makerere. In an internal evaluation of the Sida-SAREC supported sub-projects, it was recommended that there was need to strengthen multidisciplinary research which are based on identified core problems, mutual research interest and shared research facilities. Thus there was a need to make some drastic changes in the scope and organization of the research programmes of the group. These changes did not only address to one of the objectives of the main research project(s) but also to the diversification of the scope of conducting advanced research in materials science and solar energy, as well as training of postgraduate students. Thus the present research projects have been designed to focus on Materials Science and Solar Energy since it will unify the activities of the materials science, solar energy, from the physics department to those of the materials science from the chemistry department.

With the establishment of MSSEESA in 2004, the Materials Science and Solar Energy Group was among the founding members of the Network. According to MSSEESA constitution, the network has already been formally registered as Chapters in Tanzania (2006). In addition the Tanzania Chapter has already signed MOU’s with its host university and had the opportunity to host the Coordinating Office of the Network for three years (2009-2011).

MSSEESA Constitution may be of great help

b) When did your node become an official network chapter?(Please describe the process that was required to reach this status.)

Our node became an official network chapter on 11th May 2006 (Certificate of Registration SO. No. 14246). Application was sent to the Registrar of Societies after signing MoU with the University of Dar es Salaam and fulfilling all legal aspects.

c) Briefly describe the official roles that you have had in the Network since its start.
The Tanzania Chapter and had the opportunity to host the Coordinating Office of the Network for three years (2009-2011). Currently it functions as a node

d) Describe the main activities of the Network.
The overall objective for which MSSEESA is established is to enhance human and infrastructure capacity in advanced research in Materials Science and Solar Energy. Thus the MSSEESA aims at strengthening the research facilities & activities and Postgraduate Training Programmes by complementing activities of Materials Science and Solar Energy in the various institutions of the sub-region.

e) Are the activities under MSSEESA support at your node in line with the Network activities?

Please describe.

Yes, the activities are in line with network activities in the region, according to the main objectives for the establishment of the Network.

f) What are your experiences of the collaboration within the Network? What has worked well and what can be improved?

Student exchange and equipment sharing has been improved. Development of common courses and curriculum need to be improved, staff exchange need to be enhanced.

g) In your opinion, what have been the main challenges/difficulties facing MSSEESA since the start to date? (Internal and external bottlenecks or obstacles for increased capacity, collaboration and development.)
Some chapters/nodes receive funds from Sweden, while Tanzania Chapter depends solely on MSEESSA budget, this has led us in failing to sponsor postgraduate students in research and hence less students involvement in MSEESSA activities in the region.,

h) What approaches, if any, have been/are taken to solve current challenges/difficulties by your group and the Network as a whole?
The group decided to write proposal for funding several time and submitted to Sida but it was on competitive basis. The proposal was not honored. The group also wrote a proposal to TWAS and won a grant

i) In your opinion, where should future emphasis be put to be able to realize the objectives and the vision of MSSEESA?(Which are the areas of improvements and what are the general future plans?)

The MSSEESA nodes

j) Briefly describe and compare the situation of your group before the start of the MSSEESA network and today. (Including postgraduate training, research activity, access to infrastructure and equipment, staff capacity, dissemination and information exchange etc.)
Before establishment of MSSEESA Solar Energy group was mainly in the physics department and we had collaboration with IPPS. Postgraduate students had opportunity to go to Sweden and do lab work (on sandwich basis)

k) What has been the impact of the MSSEESA network on your group?
Student exchange within the region has been achieved (students managed to travel to Nairobi and Moi Universities for lab work, we also received students from University of Zambia) Training of Technicians was done under the umbrella of MSSEESA

l) What are the main challenges/difficulties facing your research group/department today? (Internal and external bottlenecks or hindrances for increased capacity and development.)

For a long time, our research group has experienced a number of constraints limiting its ambition of becoming an autonomous entity of the University of Dare s Salaam. The major challenges include, among others;

• Lack of adequate research resources necessary to build up a critical mass in the area of materials science for solar energy application,

• Lack of sufficient technical skills on thin films among technicians limiting to some degree the optimum and efficient utilization of the available resources for research,

• Inadequate laboratory space,

• Number of research staff too low,

• Inadequate fellowships for local M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.

• Taxes imposed on equipment bought from abroad.

3. Postgraduate training

MSc Program

a) Does your department have a local MSc program? If not, what is the reason?
Yes there is a local MSc program.

b) List all MSc students currently enrolled in your group. Indicate if they are supported by ISP or not, and if so by direct ISP support or MSSEESA funding.

Gender
(F/M) / Given name, family name / Start. year / Exp.
Grad.
year / Staff
(Yes/No) / ISP- support (Yes/No) / Support form*
(NW/RG) / SWH/
LOC**
1 / Mr. Hija Abbas ( Had frozen and resumed studies) / 2013 / 2018 / No / Ö
2 / Mr. Sawa Hezekiah / 2017 / 2019 / No / TWAS
3 / Mr. Chengula Sadiki / 2016 / 2018 / No / Ö
4 / Ms. Delvina Japhet / 2017 / 2018 / No
5 / Mr. Noel Mashingia (Frozen Studies due to lack of sponsorship) / 2011 / No / Ö

*NW = Network, RG = Research Group (direct ISP support)
**SWH = Sandwich, LOC= Local

PhD Program

c) Do you have a local PhD program at the department? If no, what is the reason? If yes, what specializations are available?

YES, Materials Science for Solar Energy Applications, Nuclear and Radiation Physics, and Environmental Physics

d) List all PhD students currently enrolled in your group. Indicate if they are supported by ISP or not, and if so by direct ISP support or MSSEESA funding.

Gender
(F/M) / Given name, family name, area of specialization and email address / Start. year / Exp.
Grad.
year / Staff
(Yes/No) / ISP- support (Yes/No) / Support form*
(NW/RG) / SWH/
LOC**
M / Emmanuel R. Ollotu, Materials for Solar Cells applications, / 2016 / 2019 / Yes / No / Ö

*NW = Network, RG = Research Group (direct ISP support)
**SWH = Sandwich, LOC= Local

e) How has the PhD program developed at the department over the past 10 years?

There is very little development due to lack of students as a result of lack of sponsorship. On average we have one graduate every two years.

f) If relevant, what is your opinion on the sandwich model PhD training, compared to other models (full time local and full time abroad)?

Sandwich is more preferred to full time local or full time abroad because in our University we do not have enough equipment for doing research especially on data analysis. Sandwich program may also enrich a research program though exposure to advanced research environment and expertise. Therefore the student can do part of the work in Sweden on sandwich basis. This enhanced collaboration and co-supervision. Full time abroad means less research development in our laboratories. We prefer sandwich to full time local or full time abroad.

13 (13)

Deadline6 June 2017

Graduations

g) How many PhD graduates have graduated from your department/group* since the start of the Network (2008) until today? (Indicate total number and number with ISP support.)

Total: 7 (4 Physics, 3 from Chemistry Department)

With ISP support: 4

Comments: Lack of sponsorship hinders many people to do PhD

*Group: Materials Science Research Group from Chemistry and Physics Departments

h) List all PhD graduates from your research group supported by ISP, since the start of the Network (2008) until today. Please also provide the additional information requested.