Dr Munyaradzi Maravanyika

Biography: 

Dr Munyaradzi Maravanyika is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Informatics in the Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FCI) at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Windhoek, Namibia. Born on 17 September 1975, he holds a PhD in Informatics from NUST (2020), a Master of Information Systems Management from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe (2012), a Bachelor of Science Education Honours in Computer Science from Bindura University of Science Education (2008), and a Diploma in Education (Computer Studies) from the University of Zimbabwe (2000). Dr Maravanyika brings over two decades of experience in ICT education, spanning secondary school teaching, private college leadership, ICT-for-development coordination, and university-level academic and administrative roles. He began his career as a Computer Studies and Mathematics teacher with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Zimbabwe (2001–2004), before serving as District ICT Coordinator for WorldLinks Zimbabwe in Mvurwi (2004–2007), where he coordinated teacher training and ICT programme rollouts across district schools. He subsequently served as Head of Department: ICT at Trust Academy (2008–2011), and later as Deputy Head of Institution and Head of Department: ICT at International Training College Lingua, Windhoek (2011–2015).

Since joining NUST in January 2016, Dr Maravanyika has progressed from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer, served as Acting Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Computing and Informatics (2020–2022), and currently serves as Head of the Department of Informatics (2022 to date). He also coordinates the Master of Data Science and Bachelor of Data Science Honours programmes. His broad research theme is ICT for Development (ICT4D) — specifically how information systems and educational technologies can be designed, evaluated, and implemented effectively within African contexts that face resource, infrastructure, and equity constraints. He aspires to be a nationally and internationally recognised authority in AI in Education and Digital Transformation for development, with a long-term goal of attaining a Full Professorship.

Research Focus: 

• ICT for Development (ICT4D) — design, evaluation, and implementation of information systems and educational technologies in resource-constrained African contexts
• Digital learning environments and e-learning platforms (LMS, mobile learning, virtual learning)
• Adaptive and personalised learning systems; educational recommender systems
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education — smart learning frameworks, context-aware systems
• Digital transformation in higher education institutions
• Information Systems curricula design and development
• Academic integrity in remote, online, and technology-mediated assessment environments
• Information Systems evaluation — models such as DeLone & McLean
• Social media security, online consumer transactions, and cybersecurity concerns
• Problem-based and project-based learning in computing education
   

Teaching: 

Dr Maravanyika's teaching philosophy is grounded in meaningful, project-based, and problem-based learning that immerses students in authentic, contextually relevant tasks mirroring professional and societal challenges in the African context. He aims to cultivate critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and practical competence.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Publication: 

ORCID: 0000-0003-4591-9347

Thesis

1. Maravanyika, M. (2020). A Framework for the Design and Implementation of Smart Learning Environments: A Case of Namibia University of Science and Technology. Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia.

Book Chapters / Book Proceedings Contributions

1. Maravanyika, M., & Dlodlo, N. (2018). Selecting attributes for inclusion in an educational recommender system using the multi-attribute utility theory. In Communications in Computer and Information Science. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01535-0_18

2. Maravanyika, M. (2024). Determining the most important features for designing a smart recommender framework in e-learning systems: An investigation using the Delphi study method. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-9179-2_40

International Peer-Reviewed Articles

1. Maravanyika, M. (2023). Academic dishonesty in remote teaching, learning and assessment: A single case study of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4332744

Conference Proceedings (Published Full-Length Papers)

1. Maravanyika, M., Dlodlo, N., & Jere, N. (2017). An adaptive recommender-system based framework for personalised teaching and learning on e-learning platforms. 2017 IST-Africa Week Conference (IST-Africa 2017). https://doi.org/10.23919/ISTAFRICA.2017.8102297

2. Maravanyika, M., & Dlodlo, N. (2018). An adaptive framework for recommender-based learning management systems. 2018 Open Innovations Conference (OI 2018). https://doi.org/10.1109/OI.2018.8535816

3. Shikongo, R. M., & Maravanyika, M. (2021). Using the DeLone and McLean success model to assess the Namibia Integrated Employment Information System (NIEIS): A job-seeker's perspective. 2021 3rd International Multidisciplinary Information Technology and Engineering Conference (IMITEC). https://doi.org/10.1109/imitec52926.2021.9714600

4. Rusere, K., Musarurwa, S., Bhunu Shava, F., & Maravanyika, M. (2022). Security concerns on social media customer-to-customer online transactions: A case of Namibia Facebook users. 2022 IST-Africa Conference (IST-Africa). https://doi.org/10.23919/ist-africa56635.2022.9845558

5. Maravanyika, M. (2025). A framework for implementing flexible project-based learning for computing education in resource-constrained environments: A case study of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Proceedings from the International Research Symposium on Problem-Based Learning (IRSPBL).

6. Takudzwa, T. K., Kwenda, C., Maravanyika, M., & Kale, M. (2025). A performance-based analysis of terrestrial networks and satellite-based internet in Zimbabwe. 2025 IEEE 5th International Conference on ICT in Business Industry & Government (ICTBIG), pp. 1–8. IEEE.

Conference Proceedings (In Press)

1. Maravanyika, M. (In Press). A context-aware smart learning framework for resource-constrained environments: The case of Namibia University of Science and Technology. Fourth International Conference on Information Systems and Emerging Technologies (ICISET2025).

2. Hondonga, S., & Maravanyika, M. (In Press). A task-technology fit framework for AI-driven drought mitigation in rural Namibia: A design science approach for disadvantaged agricultural communities. Fourth International Conference on Information Systems and Emerging Technologies (ICISET2025).

3. Osakwe, J., Maravanyika, M., & Mutelo, S. (In Press). Challenges and opportunities of data governance in the fourth industrial revolution. Fourth International Conference on Information Systems and Emerging Technologies (ICISET2025).

4. Maravanyika, M. (In Press). Temporal patterns of struggle and success in asynchronous problem-based learning. IST-Africa 2026.

5. Maravanyika, M., & Shindi, A. (In Press). Resource efficiency in problem-based learning: A productive struggle perspective. IST-Africa 2026.

Conference Presentations & Invited Talks

1. Session Chair, 2nd International Conference on Information Systems and Emerging Technology (ICISET 2023), NUST, Windhoek, Namibia, 17–19 October 2023.

2. Presentation: 'Selecting attributes for inclusion in an educational recommender system using the multi-attribute utility theory.' 1st International Conference on Applied Informatics (ICAI 2018), Bogotá, Colombia, November 1–3, 2018.

3. Presentation: 'An adaptive recommender-system based framework for personalised teaching and learning on e-learning platforms.' IST-Africa Week Conference, 2017.

4. Presentation: 'An adaptive framework for recommender-based learning management systems.' Open Innovations Conference (OI 2018), 2018.