LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Astria Learning has teamed up with the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) to launch an Equipment Loan Scheme that will transform digital access in Malawi’s public universities.
Starting in the 2025/26 academic year, the initiative will provide 30,000 laptops to students already on HESLGB loans.
Beneficiaries will also receive free artificial intelligence (AI) training and a certificate, equipping them with skills for the modern workplace.
Astria Learning Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bordes said the partnership is designed to prepare students for global competitiveness.
“Handing someone a laptop without teaching them how to leverage AI in 2025 is like giving them a car without teaching them to drive. AI isn’t some distant future technology – it’s reshaping every industry right now.
“I want Malawian graduates walking into any job interview, anywhere in the world, with confidence. They’ll learn practical data analysis, how to work alongside AI systems, and most importantly, how to think critically about these tools,” he said
The company will also install Internet Access Points at six universities to support reliable connectivity.
Bordes confirmed the first shipment of laptops is expected in November 2025, with all devices undergoing strict quality checks.
He added that AI training is a vital component of the program.
“Thirty thousand laptops across six major universities, backed by high-speed Internet Access Points we’re installing. That means a student at Chancellor College can collaborate in real-time with peers at MUST or anywhere globally. They can access the same research databases, the same online courses, the same opportunities.
“This isn’t charity, it’s an investment in what we see as a thriving Malawi. We’re creating a generation of digitally fluent graduates who can drive Malawi’s economic transformation. That benefits everyone,” Bordes said.
In a statement, HESLGB Board Chairperson Sam Kakhobwe welcomed the partnership, stressing that access to digital equipment is now a necessity in higher education.