UNIMA Joins Global Commemoration of International Day of Education

The University of Malawi (UNIMA) reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and digital transformation by participating in this year’s International Day of Education, commemorated on 31st January 2025 at Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu. While the global observance falls on 24th January, Malawi held the event on 31st January. This year’s theme, AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation!, underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of education.

The university’s exhibition highlighted some of its key projects that demonstrate its commitment to leveraging digital transformation for sustainable development. Led by Mr. Ramsey Njema, a Staff Associate in the Department of Computing, the UNIMA team presented ongoing collaborations with government ministries in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, and climate resilience. Among the showcased initiatives was the Integrated Community Health Information System (iCHIS), a digital platform developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health to enhance community health service delivery. The system facilitates automated data reporting, enables rapid point-of-care decision support, and fosters evidence-based policy formulation. Another key initiative was the National Agricultural Management Information System (NAMIS), a real-time data collection platform developed with the Ministry of Agriculture to improve access to agricultural information and enhance data utilization. The university also highlighted its AI-driven climate and health interventions, which form part of broader multi-sectoral efforts to address environmental challenges through digital solutions. These are just some of the many initiatives UNIMA is leading as part of its broader commitment to technological advancement and national development. These efforts are coordinated through HISP UNIMA, a brainchild of the collaboration with the University of Oslo in Norway, which serves as the digital transformation hub in the Department of Computing.

The event was graced by Hon. Dr. Jessie Kabwila, Minister of Higher Education, and Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education. In her remarks, Dr. Kabwila urged institutions to embrace AI as a tool for innovation, ensuring that its integration empowers rather than diminishes human values. She further called for ethical AI adoption to bridge socio-economic disparities in education. Hon. Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating AI into national governance instruments, ensuring alignment across key policy areas. She assured participants that the government will introduce awareness workshops for teachers and students, promoting ethical AI use and responsible adoption of digital tools in education.

Through its participation, UNIMA continues to position itself as a leader in AI-driven education and digital transformation, reaffirming its role in national progress through research, innovation, and strategic partnerships.