- Luyengo, Eswatini
- consumersci@uniswa.sz
- +268 2517 0520
Staff Activities
The objectives of the Faculty of Consumer Sciences include establishing linkages and collaboration with national and international academic and research institutions to advance knowledge for sustainable development; offer short-terms training in various areas of Consumer Sciences; and provide professional consultancies.
Community Service
Students in Level III and Mr Muzi Dlamini in the Department attended a summit on Youth Engagement in Agriculture held on the 22nd and 23rd June 2023 at Mavuvo Trade Fair Grounds. The summit was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. The students exhibited various products produced during their practicals to showcase what they have learnt and their potential in entrepreneurship. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, banks and other dignitaries from various organizations
Seven students from the Faculty of Consumer Science, through the Textile and Apparel Design Department
participated in the SADC Fashion Festival hosted by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture on the 31st August 2019. Themed: “It’s my culture” a function that was held at the Happy Valley Hotel – Ezulwini.
Workshops & Seminars
Maternal Nutrition
- Mr S. Z. Dlamini attended a one-day workshop on the 27th April 2023 on Maternal Nutrition at United Nations House in Mbabane, organized by UNICEF and SADC.
Entrepreneurship Education
- Dr. J. S. Shelembe attended a one-day workshop on Entrepreneurship Education at the Science and Technology Park on the 27th March 2023 organized by the Lutfo Foundation and Science and Technology Park.
Mobile Lab for Food Testing
- Dr. J. Shelembe and Mr. Muzi Dlamini attended a two-day stake holder’s workshop on Mobile Lab for Food Testing organized by CSIR and the Royal Science and Technology Park at Happy Valley Motel on the 28 – 29th March 2023.
UNESWA-RSTP Collaboration Project
- Dr T. P. Nkambule together with other committee members of UNESWA-RSTP collaboration project attended a stakeholder’s validation workshop of the final report for small-scale laboratories at the RSTP, held at the Ministry of ICT, 19 August 2022. The aim of the meeting was to re-engage stakeholders on Research and Development laboratories that will be housed at RSTP.
Training on Employability
- During the month of March 2022 together with colleagues from other departments, members of the FNS Department attended a training workshop on employability which was held at the Bethel Court. This was done with the aim to assist in the development of Employability Strategy for UNESWA which in turn will help increase employability of the graduates produced by the University.
Nutrition Assessment Validation Workshop (FAO/UNESWA)
- In March 2022, in Ezulwini, a workshop, facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at Sibane Hotel, where discussions and presentations on a study focusing on Food Loss Assessment in the Food Chain as well as Nutrition and Trade Assessment were conducted, respectively. A presentation was done by Dr. T. P. Nkambule on the study concentrating on “Situation Analysis of Nutrition Policy in Eswatini and Related COVID-19 Impacts”.
RUFORUM
- The Faculty of Consumer Sciences and Faculty Agriculture hosted a five-day (March 16th to 20th 2020) Agribusiness Clinic sponsored by Master Card Foundation through RUFORUM. The workshop was two days for academic and non-academic staff and three days for students. The topics covered, among others, included: the power of an entrepreneurial mindset, creating an entrepreneurial environment in a university setup, managing personal finance – financial literacy, mental barriers to youth entrepreneurship, and business opportunity identification. A total of 35 staff members and 57 students attended the training from the two Faculties. Eight members from the Faculty attended the training workshop.
AGRIBUSINESS FAIR
- The Faculty participated in the 2019 Agribusiness Fair that was held from the 1st to 3rd of October 2019. The Departments under the Faculty showcased products produced during the practical sessions by students. The products displayed included different packaged food products by FNS Department, household products by CED Department and print designs by TAD Department.
SADC FASHION FESTIVAL
- Seven students from the Faculty of Consumer Science, through the Textile and Apparel Design Department
participated in the SADC Fashion Festival hosted by the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture on the 31st August 2019. Themed: “It’s my culture” a function that was held at the Happy Valley Hotel – Ezulwini.
Curriculum Co-development for Sustainable Clothing and Textile
- One lecture from TAD attended a workshop on Curriculum Co-development for Sustainable Clothing and Textile Undergraduate Courses hosted by South African Association for Family Ecology and Consumer Science (SAAFECS and the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) on the 7th August 2019 at the University of Pretoria.
Funding & Awards
The project proposal to establish Agro-processing business incubation centre was awarded a grant of USD 50,000.00 by RUFORUM. The proposal was developed by the Department of Food and Nutrition Sciences in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture, SEDCO, ENACTUS and FESBC (Federation of Swazi Business Community). The objectives of the project include, among others, form start-up companies (of students) with the aim of value addition to agricultural produce, link the startup companies to potential markets and suppliers of equipment and raw materials, assist companies in product development by providing resources and training. Fifty percent of the grant was released and
implementation of the project will start soon.
Links with other Institutions / Organisations
Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA)
One lecturer representing FNS Department is member of impartiality committee in Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA). The Committee is aimed at assisting in developing food related standard policies (particularly those that relate to food hygiene and food safety) and auditing and certification for management systems. Some of standards developed include:
• Guidelines for the Design of Control Measures for Street-Vented Foods. These standards deal with the hygiene and food safety measures which are meant to address the current status of street-vended foods in Eswatini;
• Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for any organisation in the food chain;
• Poultry Abattoirs – Hygiene requirements;
• Code of hygiene practice for the transport of food in bulk and semi-packed food;
• Standard for general principles of food hygiene; and
• Guidelines for inspection and grading of food premises.
Two staff members from FNS Department Worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders to implement and launch Eswatini Food Composition table.
One staff member represented the Faculty in Taiwan strategic partnership tour: The advancement through technology initiative organized by RSTP
NBBI Training Network Consortium
One staff member from FNS Department is participating in NBBI Training Network Consortium. The NBBI training network will bring together the sub-Saharan region academics and the industrial expertise on food production to explore unique platforms of increasing production of new and value added foods. The project aims to create a bridge
between academia and industry by generating a new generation of young skilled biotechnologists with technical know-how on food fermentations and largescale production of fermented foods. The exploration of new microorganisms will;
- Provide breakthrough in development of unique microorganisms for food production
- Open up new avenues for research and applications of microorganisms in the food industry. NBBI will provide a technical and scientific environment for innovations in the food industry and will create a kind of young generation of scientists, the sub-Saharan region needs for food security.
Laboratory needs for RSTP Biotechnology Park (National Laboratories)
A Faculty representative is working together with other UNESWA Departments in addressing equipment needs of departments for research purposes at the RSTP Biotech Park. This includes estimating the expected usage (by staff and post graduate students) of these facilities to indicate the intended volume of use to inform planning of laboratory size and equipment numbers.
YOUR FUTURE - IN THE RIGHT HANDS
About Us
The Faculty of Consumer Sciences offers a diverse yet integrated menu of scientific and technical courses to enable a better understanding of factors impacting consumers’ general well-being and in achieving an improved quality of life.