Matthews Mtumbuka
BLMNS (Malawi), 2002
DPhil Mobile Communications Engineering
Hertford College
Currently studying at Oxford
My name is Matthews Mtumbuka and I come from the Northern Region of Malawi. My childhood ambition was to become a catholic priest. I therefore enrolled with St. Patrick's Seminary in 1992, where I did my secondary education before proceeding to the University of Malawi (UNIMA). From 1997 until 2002, I pursued a BSc. in Electrical Engineering.
What I enjoyed most at UNIMA was obviously not just spending long hours in what we called the ‘Titanic' – library! Rather, it was my involvement in student affairs, as Union President. Helping students in communicating their grievances and concerns to management as well as negotiating and fighting with the Government to reduce fees after a 3,000% hike were all very fulfilling to me. This experience helped in realising my greater purpose in the community, an attribute Cecil Rhodes wanted in his scholars.
While in my final year, I applied for the Rhodes scholarship, under the Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland (BLMNS) constituency and was happy to be selected after an interview in Johannesburg. I subsequently came up to Hertford College, Oxford and I am doctoral research student in engineering science – mobile wireless communications. I am investigating techniques that would effectively increase the speed at which future mobile handsets will send and receive data including downloads, emails, pictures and video. I find my research very exciting and I enjoy it thoroughly because of the warm support from my supervisor who spares time to meet me every week! Outside the lab, I enjoy attending talks and discussions within Oxford University, particularly activities of the Oxford University Africa Society (Afrisoc).
I know that without exaggerating, one would say that the Rhodes scholarship and an Oxford education will make me a ‘true citizen of the world'. I am very grateful for that and it is for the same reason that I will return to Africa to plough back what I have been given because I am constantly aware that all the money that is going into my education came from there.