Position: Board Chairperson
Prof Joseph M. Chuma was appointed the new Board Chairperson of the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI) with effect from the 1st of July 2025.
Prof Chuma holds a PhD in Electronics Systems Engineering and MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and Informations Systems from the University of Essex in the UK in 2001 and 1995 respectively, a BEng in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 1992, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Botswana in 2010.
Prof Joseph Chuma is a Full Professor of Electronics Systems Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Communications Systems Engineering at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).
He has over 30 years of experience in teaching and research, consultancy, and human resources development in telecommunication, computer, and electrical and electronics engineering, including CISCO computer networking. Prof Chuma is the Founding Dean of the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at BUIST and the former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the Iniversity of Botswana (UB). He has acted as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research Development and Innovation, as well as the was the founding Chairman of Board of Trustees of BIUST Staff Pension Fund.
Before joining BIUST in 2014, he was an Associate Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Botswana. He has also served as the Vice Chairman of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), and as a member of the BIUST Council and Botswana Institute of Engineers (BIE) Board. He is currently member of the Registration Committee of Botswana Engineers Registration Board (ERB).
Prof Chuma is a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (MIEEE), USA, The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK, Botswana Institution of Engineers (BIE), and a Professional Engineer registered with the Botswana Engineers Registration Board (ERB).
Prof Chuma has three of his Patent applications registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and also hold the UK and USA Patents to his credit. He has successfully completed projects that received research grants for over USD 4 million. He has authored or co-authored three books, three book chapters, and many refereed published scholarly/scientific journal articles in the subject of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering. He has served as an International reviewer to several IEEE Transactions and also served as Technical Program committee member to IEEE.