Mr Abner Shifula

Biography

Abner Shifula is a Junior Lecturer in the Department of Civil, Mining and Process Engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). His teaching responsibilities include modules in Geotechnical Engineering, Solid Waste Management, as well as Applied Physics and Chemistry. He brings valuable experience from both industry and academia, which enhances his teaching approach and practical engagement with students. Abner joined the department in February 2022 and has since been actively involved in teaching, curriculum development, and academic research. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering at NUST, with research interests in geotechnical behaviour of Namibian sands through multiscale characterisation and constitutive modelling, with the broader objective of enhancing the reliability and sustainability of infrastructure development in arid environments.

Brief Career Summary

• 2022–Present: Junior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Civil, Mining and Process Engineering, NUST, Namibia.
• 2021–2022: Engineering Intern, Roads Authority, Rundu Maintenance Region, Namibia.
• 2020–2021: Head of School, School of Applied Engineering and ICT, National Institute of Technology, Northern Campus, Namibia.
• 2019–2020: Lecturer in Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Namibia.
• 2018–2019: Engineering Laboratory Intern, Roads Authority Control Laboratory, Namibia.
• 2017: Engineering Intern, Deka Consulting Engineers, Namibia.
• 2015–2018: Part-time Lecturer in AutoCAD, Engineering Drawing and Engineering Mathematics, Goldstone Software Engineering Institute, Namibia.

Professional Affiliations 

• ECN PE2103013 (TR)

Research Focus Areas

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Solid Waste Management
• Construction Management (Building Information Modelling)

Courses Currently Teaching

Undergraduate

• Solid Waste Management 
• Geotechnical Engineering 1
• Geotechnical Engineering 2
• Applied Physics and Chemistry
• Workshop Practice 120

Conference Presentations and Invited Talks

• Shifula, A.K. and Mohd Zaini, F. (2026). Enhancing 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) Adoption in Windhoek’s Construction Industry. 11th International Conference on Civil Engineering and Materials Science (ICCEMS 2026), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 15–19 July 2026.
• Shifula, A.K. and Nghitewa, A. (2026). Bridging the Skills Gap in Sustainable Transport Infrastructure: The Role of Vocational Training and University Collaboration. 11th International Conference on Sustainable Transportation in Africa (ICTA 2026), Mercure Hotel, Windhoek, Namibia, 7–9 July 2026.