
Dr Peeps Gonde - Director
The department is still very small particularly on construction management but there is a sizeable number of technical staff in maintenance. The NUST Campus is still under construction although a few buildings have now been occupied. This department is tasked with planning any future projects, managing current projects and the general estates.
The Department has four main areas of focus and responsibility:
Project Management
As a fairly new university the Campus is still very much under construction. This is one of the most critical functions of the department. The functions here are project design, supervision and contract management. To date under this function the department has completed the university master plan, project briefs for all buildings and has handed over three completed buildings. Some buildings have had partial occupation.
Maintenance
The department is responsible for maintenance of all university buildings and infrastructure. It employs electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other skilled personnel who are available full time. In addition we are tasked with doing some small works. We have set up workshops for each trade, but we are moving towards multi-skilling so that each maintenance technician has more than one skill.
Facilities Management
We are also tasked with managing the available space in the university. As a campus that is still under construction, there is the perennial problem of space shortage, sharing of space, time tabling problems, demand for specialised space etc.
Estates and Grounds Maintenance
Our campus is approximately 160 ha in extent, most of it being virgin bush. The challenge for this section is to ensure that natural flora and fauna are preserved while introducing modern landscaping techniques. We want to create a pleasant studying environment with attractive gardens. While the landscaping is far from complete, we believe we are on the right track with our balance of indigenous trees and flowers.
Transport and Vehicle Maintenance
This section of the department is tasked with acquisition and maintainanance of the university fleet which comprises of a wide range of vehicles – buses, trucks, saloons, pickups, coaches and motor bikes. We order our own fuel and oil in bulk to save cost. We have a Transport officer who runs the fleet with several drivers and an assistant mechanic.
Although the departmental establishment is still very small. It comprises the Director, Project Officer, Clerk of Works, Site and Transport Officer, Maintenance Technicians, Drivers, Technicians and grounds staff