Vice Chancellors’ Forum concretizes inter-university relations

Much as the University of Malawi exists as an independent academic institution, there has always been an acknowledgment that it enjoys good relations with its sister universities in the country. With this recognition in mind, a decision was made to formalize this cooperation through the formation of the Vice Chancellors’ Forum. This is a grouping of Vice Chancellors from six public universities and two private universities in Malawi, namely the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mzuzu University (MZUNI), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) and University of Livingstonia (UNILIA).

This grouping aims to strengthen the relationship between these eight higher education institutions (HEIs) and enhance collaboration in research, expertise, and capacity building. The forum is supported by UNICEF with the Center for Social Research (CSR) from the University of Malawi acting as its secretariat. This second meeting, which took place at Sunbird Ku Chawe Hotel on 22nd December, 2023, saw the Vice Chancellors electing Prof. Wales Singini, Vice Chancellor of Mzuzu University, as the forum's Chairman. Prof. Samson Sajidu, Vice Chancellor of UNIMA, has been leading the group since its inception in August last year. This time, the meeting marked the birth of the Vice Chancellors’ forum with a clear structure and defined agendas.

Alongside the Vice-Chancellors, key figures, such as Dr. Eliya Zulu, Executive Director of AFIDEP, Dr. Mussarrat Youssuf from UNICEF, and Dr. Chrissie Thakwalakwa, Acting Director for CSR, attended the meeting.

In an interview, Prof. Samson Sajidu, the Vice Chancellor of UNIMA, mentioned that individually the universities meet a lot of challenges, some of which can be sorted when the institutions act as a group. With this grouping, they will also be better positioned to contribute to the development of the nation with their expertise. He further mentioned that the Vice Chancellors can collaboratively help in guiding policies in the education system, from kindergarten, through the primary school level, to secondary schools, by inputting into the curriculum or the general education system. The newly elected chair, Prof. Wales Singini, concurred with Sajidu, pointing out that this is a big milestone for the group, as they now have a structured form, which will enable universities to work together with a common objective.

Rather than being limited to issues concerning education, the Forum will also delve into other serious issues affecting Malawi, such as overpopulation and natural disasters.