A/Prof Malibongwe Manono

• Overseeing academic programs for ~5,000 undergraduate students across multiple engineering disciplines, ensuring alignment with UCT Vision 2030 and national transformation goals.
• Implemented student success initiatives that contributed to a measurable increase in throughput and retention rates, particularly among students from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Led curriculum reforms impacting seven academic departments, integrating industry-relevant skills and sustainability principles into undergraduate education.
• Expanded student mentorship and academic support programs to increase first-year retention rates.
• Strengthened transformation initiatives, increasing equity-focused enrollment, and support structures to improve student success in historically disadvantaged groups.
• Chaired and served on various committees to drive policy development and strategic initiatives.

• Senate Member (2021–Present): Influencing academic governance, faculty hiring, and transformation strategies.
• Chair, Faculty Transformation Committee (2021–2023): Implemented faculty-wide policies to enhance diversity in student enrollment, staff hiring, and curriculum development.
• EBE Representative, UCT Employment Equity and Transformation Forums (2021–2023): Advocated for inclusive academic policies and research opportunities for emerging scholars.
• Postgraduate Programmes Advisory Committee (PGPAC) (2021–2023): Developed UCT’s postgraduate policies and supervision frameworks.
• CMR (Centre for Minerals Research) Management (2021–Present): Spearheaded research marketing and industry partnerships.

• Developed and led multidisciplinary research collaborations, securing over R50M in competitive funding.
• Supervised 12 MSc(Eng) and 1 PhD to completion, with 8 MSc(Eng) and 1 PhD currently supervised.
• Championed student mentorship programs, improving postgraduate research engagement.

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, UCT.

• Designed and executed faculty-wide diversity and inclusion policies to enhance the participation of historically disadvantaged groups.
• Led UCT’s Engineering Transformation Strategy, improving representation in faculty hiring and postgraduate enrollment.
• EBE Representative, UCT Employment Equity and Transformation Forums (2021–2023) – Developed and implemented transformation policies for the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
• Departmental Marketing & Outreach (2019–2023) – Led branding, student recruitment, and outreach strategies, strengthening industry and academic partnerships.

Research Leadership & Funding
Principal Investigator on multiple national & international research collaborations in sustainable minerals processing and water-energy interactions.

Secured over R50M in research funding, including:

NRF Black Academics Advancement Programme (2023–2024) – R783,075
NRF Thuthuka Post-PhD Track (2022) – R280,000
SAMMRI/DST Project Support (2021–2022) – R540,000
Key Research Projects:

Departmental Water-Energy Research Nexus (Leader, 2020–2022)
Reagent Research Group, Centre for Minerals Research (Project Leader, 2019–Present)
Postgraduate Supervision & Mentorship
Supervised:
12 MSc(Eng) and 1 PhD to completion.
8 MSc(Eng) and 1 PhD currently in progress.
Student Success & Mentorship Impact:
Multiple MSc(Eng) students graduated with distinction.
One MSc(Eng) student upgraded to PhD due to research excellence.
Developed structured mentorship frameworks that increased postgraduate research productivity.

• I have led and lead various research projects within the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Centre for Minerals Research with both local and international collaborators
• A list of research grants, publications and conference presentations are presented at the end of this resumé.

• Managed postgraduate supervision policies, research funding allocation, and student support initiatives.
• Designed mentorship programs that improved postgraduate completion rates and funding access.

• Undergraduate & Postgraduate Teaching & Curriculum Development
• Taught and developed courses in Process Design, Minerals & Metallurgical Processing, and Chemical Engineering Fundamentals across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Led the integration of sustainability, industry applications, and digital learning tools into chemical engineering coursework.
• Designed structured learning interventions that improved student engagement, project-based learning, and employability skills.
• Supervised numerous final-year research projects, contributing to students’ professional and academic success.