One of the projects will see the development of solar energy systems for rural communities in Malawi. These could be used to power irrigation systems, provide lighting for schools and widen access to reliable, affordable electricity.
The Making Wonders project The other project will provide computers and assistive software to blind and visually-impaired learners in primary schools and teacher training colleges across the African nation, as well as training staff at Montfort teacher training college to train others to use the technologies.
Strathclyde is the only university to have secured two grants in the new round of Scottish Government funding for sustainable growth projects in Malawi. Awards totalling £3.133 million have been made for 29 projects and Strathclyde's share amounts to £320,897.
The grants continue the University's long-standing relationship with Malawi. Strathclyde also runs the Malawi Millennium Project, which, among other projects, helps to train the country's future teachers, nurses, scientists and engineers.
Dr Peter West, Secretary to the University, said: "Each bid was independently and rigorously assessed and these awards reflect the depth of our commitment to Malawi over many years."
The solar energy project, Community Rural Electrification and Development (CRED), worth £137,638 over three financial years, will pilot the installation of four community solar energy systems, in Malawi's Chikwawa district, which can demonstrate best practice and a sustainable model for social and economic development in rural communities.
An Electrical Engineering Research Fellow at Strathclyde, Damien Frame, has been seconded to Malawi to act as project manager.
Dr Graham Ault, of Strathclyde's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, who has helped to develop the project, said: "At present, only 7 per cent of Malawi's population has access to electricity and the figure is much less in rural areas. Our aim is to increase accessibility through a system which is sustainable and affordable for the people using it.
"Not only will the benefits of this electricity system will be seen in improved agricultural water supplies and lighting but schools will be able to stay open longer, with more hours of study possible and communities can be more enterprising through a basic electricity supply. People in the communities will also be trained to maintain the supplies, creating a sense of ownership."
Meanwhile, the grant for the computers project, worth £183,259 over three financial years, will allow an extension of the Making Wonders programme, which provides training and equipment to support blind and low-vision learners. It will allow the number of schools assisted by the project to increase from 21 to 33.
The new emphasis on primary education and teacher training colleges, in conjunction with the existing provision in secondary schools and colleges, will provide a consistent teaching and learning environment from primary to tertiary education.
Besides purchasing equipment, the funding will also be used to train teacher trainers who will then train teachers to support blind and low vision learners to use the technology. In addition, technical staff are being trained to maintain the computers.
The Making Wonders programme is also working in collaboration with the Dutch-based FORCE Foundation, which will produce talking books in Chichewa, the predominant local language.
Norman Wagstaffe, of Strathclyde's Information Technology Services, said: "It is very apparent that blind and low vision children who have access to these computers at primary school get off to a better start at secondary school, so it makes sense to put the same equipment into more of the primary schools that support blind and low vision learners.
"Up until now, all the software we have supplied had has been in English, which has made it less suitable for use in primary schools. The collaboration with the Force Foundation and their provision of talking books in Chichewa will make this technology even more applicable.
Mr Wagstaffe will be visiting Malawi with Strathclyde IT Development Officer Nicola Smith next month to help lay the foundations for the new scheme.
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani said: "By supporting these projects, Scotland is contributing to the global fight against poverty.
"The projects focus on sustainable economic growth and building the skills and capacity of Malawi to grow and prosper - key priorities for the Government of Malawi. This funding is good news for Scotland, for Malawi and for the world.
"When I visited Malawi earlier this year, I was impressed by the dedication of the many Scottish organisations whose projects have been funded by the Scottish Government, and by the difference their work is making to the people of Malawi."
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