EDF DEPT OFFERS SATELLITE PROGRAMMES
In a move to ensure that the physical location of the University of Malawi does not restrict people from accessing high quality education, the Education Foundations Department in the School of Education is offering two full-time programmes over weekends (Saturday and Sunday) through a satellite centre, the KUHeS-Lilongwe campus. The programmes are Master of Education in Policy, Planning and Leadership and Master of Education in Educational Psychology.
The EDF Department held a function to mark the commencement of the satellite programme delivery on 4th February, 2023. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi, Professor Samson Sajidu, was in attendance. He observed that the initiative is consistent with UNIMA’s strategic plan of widening access to quality education and also with Vision 2063. While studying from home as adults with families to manage besides work is challenging, the VC urged the students to be determined in the management of their time and roles so that they complete the journey they have started. According to Dr Chikumbutso Manthalu, Senior Lecturer in the Education Foundations Department, the idea behind the concept of a satellite centre is basically about taking the university to the people. “The motivation for the satellite centre arose from incessant demand by potential students and even students admitted on the weekday model in Zomba. They expressed a wish for a program that is customized to the work demands of those who stay away from the Zomba neighbourhood. We are mindful that most of our prospective students have work schedules that cannot allow them travel to Zomba and learn for two working days (Thursday and Friday) excluding a day for travel,” he said.
Under this new arrangement, the programs are offered through a blended approach: face-to face and online. The first few weeks are for face-to-face and then later the delivery method shifts to online platforms. The final week of the semester will be face-to-face. Under the face-to-face arrangement, academic staff shall travel to KUHeS-Lilongwe campus to teach. Dr Manthalu further observed that staff in the department are currently able to manage the workload. However, as the department faces demands to extend to Mzuzu and Blantyre, they may integrate the commencement of the programs.
Currently, the programmes have registered around 30 students, most of whom work outside Zomba city.
The School of Education has plans to also offer the M.Ed (Sociology of Education) and M.Ed (Testing and Measurement) under the same arrangement.
