FAWEMA Bridging Programme Opens New Pathways for 139 STEM Students at UNIMA

For 139 students, what once seemed like a distant dream of university education is now becoming a reality.

Through the FAWEMA/Mastercard Foundation Bridging Programme, 145 students were enrolled at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) to strengthen their academic foundations and prepare for degree-level studies in STEM-related fields.

Of these, 139 successfully completed the bridging programme and have progressed to first-year degree programmes at UNIMA as fee-paying students.

The students have been prepared for different academic programmes including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Actuarial Sciences, Geography, Geology, Information Systems, Food and Nutrition and Family Sciences.

The participants received intensive academic preparation in STEM subjects alongside study skills, life skills and mentorship to help them confidently transition into mainstream university programmes.

The programme, implemented by the Forum for African Women Educationalists in Malawi (FAWEMA) with support from the Mastercard Foundation, prioritises students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly girls from community day secondary schools.

The selection targeted 80 percent female and 20 percent male beneficiaries, while also prioritising students from poor and marginalised communities, and applicants with disabilities.

Beyond academic preparation, the programme provides students with comprehensive support, including tuition, accommodation, meals, a monthly stipend, laptops and transport, as well as mentorship and psychosocial support.

The programme is part of broader efforts to expand access to higher education and increase opportunities for girls and other underserved students to pursue STEM careers.

FAWEMA officials have indicated that the Mastercard Foundation is supporting scholarships for 750 students to study STEM programmes at higher learning institutions in Malawi.

Coordinated at UNIMA by Dr Justice S. P. Mlatho, Head of the Department of Physics and Electronics, the programme is helping turn opportunity into action by equipping students with the knowledge, confidence and support they need to pursue their university education and contribute to Malawi’s future.