Faculty of Science Mission Statement To be a strong and outstanding centre for the teaching, development and promotion of Science & Technology to support sustainable economic development of society, striving at all times for relevance in teaching and research, and excellence among staff and students.  The Faculty pursues broad interests, bringing together a range of expertise with focus on technology and human resource development, and research in the natural and physical sciences, information technology and engineering; and a focus on the conservation of natural resources and the integration of environmental issues.

Prof. M.D. Dlamini Dean

Departments and Subject Offerings

The Faculty of Science has evolved considerably over the past decade and now has the following departments:

• Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Geography, Environmental Science and Planning
• Mathematics
• Physics

The Faculty offers undergraduate programmes and some departments within the Faculty also offer post-graduate programmes. Information about the post-graduate programmes can be obtained from the Institute of Post-Graduate Studies.

Undergraduate Programmes

• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

With the exception of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, all the departments teach courses that lead to the four-year degree of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). The five-year Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) programme reflects the Faculty’s intention to widen the Science and Technology base in the country. The B.Sc. degree programme leads to graduates who may either join the teaching profession, the private sector, government or proceed with their studies in specialised areas such as medicine, pharmacy and other Engineering programmes not yet offered at the University of Swaziland (UNISWA).

BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT DEPARTMENTS

Department of Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences seeks to provide leadership with excellence in teaching and research in all aspects of biology as well as outreach in the utilisation, conservation and management of biological resources.
The Department’s mission is to excel in research, scholarship and in the provision of education which links theory and application, hence giving its graduates enhanced career opportunities and capacity to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country.

Department of Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry provides rigorous classroom education and practical laboratory training to pre-doctoral scientists, so that our graduates are successful in a broader spectrum of professional careers. It facilitates applied research in all areas of chemistry (Analytical, Physical, Organic and Inorganic) to undergraduate and post-graduate students to ensure that they relevant to the needs of the country and also in line with advances in chemistry. At the same time, it promotes the development of knowledge in indigenous natural resources, environmental conservation, sustainable development and nano-materials.

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science was born as a result of the explosion of computer technology in the 80's.  Originally, the department was part of the Department of Mathematics, it only became a stand- alone department in 1993.

At Year 1, the department offers a Computer Foundation course to three other faculties other than the Faculty of Science. The course is offered to more than 400 students.  The department’s main stream programme starts at Year 2.  Currently students can take Computer Science with Mathematics or Physics or G.E.P.

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is currently based in the Faculty of Science and is the only department in Swaziland which offers a degree programme leading to a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering; the duration of the programme is five years. Prior to the introduction of this programme in 2008, the department was offering a degree in Electronic Engineering since 1993.

The vision of the department is to become a centre of excellence for electronic, electrical and computer engineering education in Swaziland and beyond. It provides formal education in electrical and electronic engineering as well as related fields through teaching, experimental work and industrial attachment to prepare students for careers in industry, government and elsewhere. It will need support to develop a curriculum which would meet the needs of a broad range of industries engaged in agricultural processing, chemical processing, mechanical services and civil engineering.

Department of Geography, Environmental Science and Planning

The Department of Geography, Environmental Science and Planning popularly known by its acronym ‘GEP’ is the only department in the University that allows students from four different faculties (ie. Education, Humanities, Science and Social Science) to major in the subject.  The department’s programmes have been restructed to better meet the job market and national development requirements.  As a consequence, all programmes have become very popular and competitive such that students numbers have increased tremendously.  We currently have an average 60 students graduating each year, in the undergraduate programmes.

Department of Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics is committed to contributing to the development of Mathematical sciences in Swaziland and beyond through excellence in teaching, research, community service and consultancy.

The department provides courses designed to give in-depth training for students specializing in mathematics, and thereby prepare them for postgraduate programmes. It also offers a wide range of courses tailor-made to provide the mathematical skills required in other disciplines like Commerce, Economics, Engineering and Environmental Sciences. It has strength in applied areas of mathematics represented by differential equations, computational mathematics, fluid mechanics and numerical analysis. 
Department of Physics

The Physics Department aims at producing high quality physicists with the skills needed to succeed in the professions available to them.  It also aims at preparing them for careers in science engineering, medicine, or other disciplines that require an understanding and applications of the principles of physics. The Physics Department has strength in teaching and adequate human capacity for research in condensed matter physics, energy, material science, electronics, optical and X-ray spectroscopic techniques, and computational physics.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

The Faculty offers two undergraduate programmes and coordinates two postgraduate programmes through the Institute of Postgraduate Studies.

Undergraduate programmes:
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (B.Eng.)

Postgraduate Programmes:

• Master of Science in Environmental Resources Management [M.Sc. (ERM)]
• Master of Science in Chemistry [M.Sc. (Chem.)]

Two options are offered in this programme, namely, the Analytical/Environmental Chemistry option and the Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry option.

LINKS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Department of Biological Sciences

• Entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Natural Resources
Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich, England.

Department of Chemistry

• Entered into an MOU with the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Department of Computer Science

• Has a link with Aalborg University, Denmark.

Department of Geography, Environmental Science and Planning (GEP)

Entered into MOUs as follows:

• Urban Food Security Project with the Southern African Research Centre, University
of Queens, Canada since 2008 and ongoing. Eight universities of Southern Africa are part of the project. The focus is research on urban food security and surveys have been done. The project has given birth to the Urban Security Food Network which publishes and organizes workshops.

• UNISWA-GEP and University of Halle, Germany - signed in 2008–2012. The project involves
Field Measurement and Testing; and Field work in water resources. It has components of field work, where staff and students exchanges have occurred.

Whilst there is no formal link with regard to the Geophagia Project on Human and Enzootic Geophagia in South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland, staff members have been working with colleagues from the Universities of Sisulu and Botswana since 2007. Research work on Swaziland has been undertaken.

The department is also a full and paying member of WATERNET, which is a body that empowers and capacitates members on water resources management in Southern Africa.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Department of Geography, Environmental Science and Planning (GEP)

The department supports the work of the student organization called UNIGEPS to link and network with a variety of stakeholders. In the past year, they have worked with the municipality of Matsapha on an environmental and 'keep clean campaign' among the surrounding communities.

Department of Physics

The department provides services to Government and communities in areas pertaining to science and technology, quality assurance and energy. It works in close collaboration with various Government Ministries and Non-Governmental Organisations in these areas and also participates in policy issues at the national level in areas such as education and environment.

CAREERS

Graduates from the Faculty of Science have a number of opportunities open to them, some of which are listed below:
• Teaching
• Industry
• Government

Other science-based careers may require training which is not yet available at the University of Swaziland, including
• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry
• Veterinary science
• Engineering (other than electrical and electronic engineering)
Detailed information on career possibilities in the various disciplines and subject combinations is given below:

In Biological Sciences: 

Biotechnology; Pharmacology; Microbiology; Chemical Engineering; Bioinformatics; Sports Science; Conservation; Resource Economics.

In Chemistry:  

Medicine (Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Laboratory Technician); Biotechnology; Chemical Engineering; Environmental Consultancy; Deities; Analytical Chemists; Research; Teaching; Lecturing and Industry - (soap, paint, sweets, beverages, etc).

In Biological Sciences & Chemistry:

Biotechnology; Pharmacology; Microbiology; Chemical Engineering; Bioinformatics; Sports Science; Conservation; Resource Economics; Medicine (Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Laboratory Technician); Biotechnology; Environmental Consultancy; Deities; Analytical Chemists; Research; Teaching; Lecturing and Industry - (soap, paint, sweets, beverages, etc).

In Chemistry & G.E.P.:

Environmental Consultancy; Teaching; Lecturing and Research.

In Chemistry & Mathematics:

Town Planning; Chemical Engineering; Environmental Consultancy; Analytical Chemist; Research; Teaching; Lecturing; Actuarial and Industry -  (soap, paint, sweets, beverages, etc).

In Computer Science & G.E.P.:
Software Engineer; Network Administrator; Database Administrator.

In Computer Science & Mathematics:

Teacher/Lecturer; Consultant; Programmer; Systems Analyst; Systems Administrator.

In Geography, Environmental Science & Planning (G.E.P):

Background training in geography often allows one to branch into other specialized fields in the natural sciences and become a: Geologist; Cartographer; Demographer; Transport Analyst; Market Researcher; Geographic Information Specialist; Geomorphologist, Soil scientist, Meteorologist/Climatologist, Palaeontologist; Health Care Planner; Travel Agent; Industrial Planner; Land Use Consultant; Real Estate Developer; Recreation Planner; Resource Analyst; Environmental Manager; Teacher; etc.

In Mathematics:

Teaching:  At colleges, university or high schools
Government Department:   Statistics
Financial Sector:  Banks, Insurance, African Alliance, Pension Fund
Private Sector: Telecommunictions, Water and Electricity Industries
Further studies leading to an M.Sc. in Mathematics, Engineering, Actuarial Science, Quantitative Analysis, etc.

In Physics:

Teaching: At colleges, university and high schools
Further studies leading to engineers, material scientists, medical doctors, medical scientists, actuarial scientists, computer and information systems, environmental scientists, government officers, etc.

In Electrical & Electronic Engineering:
This programme prepares students to design, operate, and maintain (and possibly to research in) systems such as Electrical Power and Energy; Electrical Machines; Communication Systems, Computers and Embedded Systems; Control and Instrumentation Systems; Electronic Systems and Electronic Appliances; Mechatronic Systems.

RESEARCH

The research agenda of the Faculty of Science is based on the following five themes:

• Environmental Conservation;
• Energy;
• Water Quality Management;
• Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling; and
• Research in Indigenous Medicinal and Nutritious Food Plants

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the Faculty of Science have a number of opportunities open to them, some of which are listed below:

• Teaching
• Industry
• Government

Other science-based careers may require training which is not yet available at the University of Swaziland, including

• Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry
• Veterinary science
• Engineering (other than electrical and electronic engineering)

Future plans of the Faculty

The Faculty is planning to establish the Swaziland Environmental Management and Sustainable Development Institute (SEMSUDI) in the near future.  It is anticipated that the Institute will be made up of four research centres of excellence as indicated below:

• Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling Centre
• Energy Centre (IngunguYemandla)
• Environmental Conservation Centre
• Water Quality Management Centre

Contacting the Faculty

The Dean
Faculty of Science
Universityof Swaziland
Private Bag 4
Kwaluseni
M201
Swaziland

Telephone:        (+268) 2518 4011
Fax:                  (+268) 2518 5276