UNIMA hosts Stance Secondary School students

The University of Malawi takes pride in inspiring secondary school learners so that they may one day join the institution. Through its motivational programmes, the University of Malawi recently hosted a group of students from Stance Secondary School in Blantyre. The group was joined by five students from HAN University of Applied Science in the Netherlands, who are currently in Malawi undergoing teaching practice at Stance Secondary School.

Guided by the Marketing Officer for UNIMA, Mr. Grey Chasuka, and a team of enthusiastic student ambassadors, the visiting students were taken on a comprehensive campus tour. During the visit, the students had the privilege of being introduced to various departments at UNIMA, including the Departments of Physics, Fine Arts, Chemistry, Geography and Earth Sciences, as well as the Law Section where they interacted with professionals within the departments, who took them through the programmes offered there and their relevance to national development.

During their visit at the Physics department, the visiting students had the opportunity to see some of the department’s innovations, including a solar cooker – an innovation that uses sunlight to generate heat for boiling water by channelling the light rays to a concentrated area. Mr Lumbani Lobole, a lecturer in the department, demonstrated how the machine works, leaving the students in awe.

Speaking to the students, Mr. Chasuka emphasized the importance of knowing about higher education institutions at an early stage. “When students see first-hand what the university has to offer, it expands their mindset,” he said. “It helps them to start thinking about their future with more clarity and determination. We want them to be familiar with what the university offers, and what they should expect once they are here.”  

One of the visiting students from Stance Secondary School shared her experience, expressing how the visit had greatly motivated her. “I will work extra hard to score colourful grades at MSCE level,” she said. “Back at home, I thought I was getting the best, but now I’ve realized the university is the best place to be. I want to pursue a Bachelors in Chemistry (honours) or a related programme.”

Similarly, one of the visiting education students from HAN University of Applied Science described the tour as a wonderful experience, and he was impressed by the diversity at UNIMA, the broad academic offerings, the teaching and learning facilities, the environment, and its rich history. The group also expressed interest in the exploring UNIMA E-Campus platform to appreciate it.