UNIMA holds collaboration talks with Mozambican academic delegation

The University of Malawi continues to make significant efforts in fostering international relationships with various universities both within and outside Africa. Recently, on 18th September 2024, the university management hosted a delegation from Mozambique, which met with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samson Sajidu, and other university officials at the University Office Boardroom. The delegation, led by Eng. Virgílio F. Ferrao, Chairperson of the Polytechnic of Tete, included representatives from various universities in Mozambique.

During the meeting, Professor Sajidu welcomed the visitors and expressed his gratitude to the presidents of Malawi and Mozambique for fostering academic collaboration. He noted that, during one of the meetings held when both presidents visited UNIMA last month, they exchanged ideas and recognized many commonalities between the two nations, which will also strengthen socio-economic ties.

Professor Sajidu delivered a presentation, providing an overview of UNIMA’s history, its strategic objectives, and international partnerships the university has already established with universities in Mozambique including Rovuma University, Universidade Púnguè and Universidade Joaquim Chissano, among others.

Following Professor Sajidu’s presentation, the visitors engaged in discussions with UNIMA representatives on the programmes offered by the university and potential areas for collaboration. They expressed their satisfaction with the Vice Chancellor’s insights and conveyed their eagerness to partner with UNIMA.

The meeting was a success and paved the way for further academic collaborations between higher learning institutions of the two neighboring countries. One of the prominent issues discussed was the exchange of students and staff between UNIMA and Mozambican universities.

The Mozambican delegation expressed significant interest in sending their academic staff to UNIMA, both to learn English and to further their qualifications by pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes in specialized areas.

The collaboration extends beyond academic programmes, also focusing on how the partners can best support each other in terms of student welfare, particularly regarding accommodation.

The visitors also toured various departments of the University of Malawi, including the Economics Department, where they admired world-class facilities present there. They also visited the Biological Sciences, Geography, and Chemistry laboratories, and toured the new administration block under construction, appreciating its architectural beauty.

These collaborations will continue to strengthen the relationship that exists between the two nations by bringing their people together through academic activities and collaborative research.