Tag Archives: Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must)

Education, Malawi

UNIMA, MUST students laud Chakwera for upkeep allowance hike

Maravi Post Reporter

ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-There is jubilation among students at University of Malawi (UNIMA) and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) following the upkeep allowance hike from MK350,000.00 to MK560.000.00 per academic year.

The hike which represents 60% follows Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda’s announcement in Parliament on Monday, March 25, 2024.

The minister has acted on the directive President Lazarus Chakwera made three weeks ago to adjust students’ upkeep.

In two separate statements from both UNIMA and MUST issued on Tuesday, March 26, public varsity students representatives expressed gratitude over Chakwera’s timely gesture.

“Fellow students, you, may recall that I joined my fellow SRC leaders from the six public universities in Malawi on 13th February. 2024 in a round table discussion with the Chancellor of the University of Malawi, his Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, president of the Republic of Malawi at Kamuzu palace in Lilongwe.

“Our discussion with the state president centered on a number of agendas of which one of them was the upkeep increment. Comrades, I am so excited with the official information from the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board that government has increased the upkeep loan from MK350,000.00 per academic year to MK560.000.00 per year representing a 60% increase. You may wish to know that it is the same Dr. Chakwera who increases it from MK200,000.00 to the current MK350,000.00”, reads UNIMA Student Representative Council (SRC) statement in part signed by its President Thanks Mwalwanda Elia.

SRC statement adds, “To our beloved chancellor Dr. Laz, take it from me that University of Malawi Students are grateful. This gesture has demonstrated that you are not only a listening president, but also a caring father of our beloved nation Malawi and that you have at the back of your mind the welfare of students in public universities. We are looking forward to implementation of the other petition we made to increase the number of loan beneficiaries when it comes to tuition”.

Echoing the same, MUST RSC statement signed by its President Alexander Kude lauds, “With regards to the Press release from the current government through the Ministry of Finance, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of the State President. HE Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to his pledge in considering our daily lives by increasing the Upkeep yet another time in his reign, now from K350,000 to K560.000.

“This shall contribute to quality education as one of the most priority pillars of His administrative governance. Finally. I should further appreciate the State President for giving myself and fellow leaders a chance to have met him in person and express our problems”.

Education

MUST partners with Smile Life Insurance on needy students scholarships offer

Maravi Post Author

By Twink Jones Gadama

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-In a bid to ensure that no deserving student is left behind due to financial constraints, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has entered into a partnership agreement with Smile Life Insurance Company to provide scholarships for needy students.

The initiative, which aims to support students throughout their degree programme, has been lauded by MUST Vice Chancellor Address Malata as a means to alleviate the burden of education expenses for those who need it the most.

The partnership between MUST and Smile Life Insurance Company comes at a crucial time when the cost of higher education continues to rise, making it increasingly difficult for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality education.

With the MK9.6 million scholarship fund set aside by Smile Life Insurance, students will be able to cover not only their tuition fees, but also their accommodation and upkeep expenses, thus easing the financial burden on their families.

According to Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Smile Life Insurance, Beatrice Mangwana, the company’s decision to invest in education through this scholarship programme is rooted in the belief that education is the key to unlocking the economic and social potential of the country.

By providing support to needy students, Smile Life Insurance hopes to empower the next generation of leaders and professionals, ensuring that they have the opportunity to pursue their academic ambitions without the worry of financial constraints holding them back.

The impact of this scholarship programme on the lives of the beneficiaries cannot be overstated. For many students, the ability to afford higher education is a distant dream, with financial hardships often forcing them to drop out of school before completing their degree.

In her address, Vice Chancellor Address Malata expressed her gratitude to Smile Life Insurance for their commitment to supporting needy students through this scholarship programme.

She emphasized the importance of partnerships between the private sector and academic institutions in addressing the challenges faced by students who lack the financial means to pursue higher education.

As the scholarship programme is rolled out and students begin to benefit from the support provided by Smile Life Insurance, it is clear that this partnership will have a lasting impact on the lives of many young Malawians.

Business

Standard Bank Plc contributes MK20 million towards MUST endowment fund

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Standard Bank Plc has released 2023 consignment of funding worth MK20 million to Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) towards its endowment fund which seeks to assist needy students and enhance resources mobilization at the institution.

Through the endowment fund, Standard Bank committed a four year sponsorship amounting to MK80 million which is distributed in division of MK20 million per year.

Standard Bank commenced its contribution from last year with the first disbursement of MK20 million, therefore, this is the second contribution to the fund.

Speaking during the handover ceremony William Nuka, Head of Engineering and Chairperson of the Bank’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Committee said that the fund seeks to improve access to education for students and further improve service provision at the institution.

“Standard Bank believes that investment in education contributes positively to the overall growth of our nation. Therefore, the fund we are disbursing today will help students to acquire the desired education at the same time improving education standards at MUST,” said Nuka.

Nuka said that the funding resonates well with our core purpose which seeks to see the growth of Malawi in all sectors.

“Our Purpose as Bank is Malawi is Our Home, We Drive Her Growth. As such we understand the impact of our contribution towards initiatives that are propelling developmental growth such as MUST’s endowment fund,” he said.

For a robust endowment fund – Nuka (Left) presenting a dummy cheque to Prof. Malata (Right)

Nuka further added that through the funding Standard Bank is enhancing equity in the education sector.

“As a Bank we are aware of MUST’s policy which states that no student should withdraw due to financial and equipment challenges. Our contribution is aligned with the policy to ensure that every student has equal access to education with suitable equipment,” added Nuka. 

The Vice Chancellor of MUST, Professor Address Malata predicted positive growth of the institution which will emanate from the cordial relationship between the two entities.

“Since we started our operations in 2014, Standard Bank has been a partner for growth helping MUST to be financially sustainable. The contribution will help to enhance delivery of education at the institution and assist needy students,” said Malata.

Through the endowment fund, MUST is aligning itself with the MW2063 therefore, the contribution is a catalyst for achieving objectives of the plan.

“As an education institution we hope to see the growth of the endowment fund’s revenue to K30 billion. As a result the institution will be contributing 40 percent to our budget in the process helping the government to achieve the MW2063 vision,” She said. 

Malata assured Standard Bank of the safety and accountability of the funds at the warm heart of higher education in the country.

MUST Endowment Fund was established in 2021 to provide a more sustainable mechanism of resource mobilization to support needy students and also foster the university’s developments.

Within two years of establishment, the MUST Endowment Fund is close to K2 billion which will be used u for tuition fees and other infrastructure development after a tenure of three years.

Education, Malawi, Regional

MUST wins 2022 African’s Cyber 9/12 strategy challenge

Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has once again emerged winner at the African continental level for this year’s Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge in South Africa.

MUST spokesperson, James Mphande said results for the competition which was held between September 28 and 29, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa, released on Tuesday October 4,2022, showed that three of the University’s teams; Cyber Technophiles is in position one, Cyber Warriors on number two, while Cyber Elites came fourth and Cyber Wizards for University of Cape Town took position three.

MUST wins 2022 Cyber 9/12 strategy challenge

MUST coach and lecturer Allan Chongwe described the competition as not easy.

“The competition was not easy and each of MUST team took turns in presenting and responding to tough questions from high caliber judges, some of them flew from the US and Estonia,” said Chongwe.

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is an annual cyber policy and strategy competition where students from across the globe compete in developing policy recommendations tackling a fictional cyber catastrophe.

MUST dominates regional cyber challenge

This year, several teams applied for the challenge but only eight were picked, with MUST taking three of the eight places.

corruption, Education, Malawi

MUST needy students cry foul over staff members using their fees amid grappling school life

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Maravi Post has established that some needy students at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) are struggling with school because the money that were given to them by the loans board for accommodation and other necessities is believed to be used by other school staff members.

One of the concerned students (name withhold), has disclosed this in an audio which Maravi Post has in possession.

The student says in 2022 academic year, he applied for a loan and bonding fee at the loans board and luckily enough he was picked for both.

MUST campus in Thyolo

He says, what surprised him is that the time he was told by the board to check the money in his account, he did not find the money deposited into the account.

” As a needy student, I applied for loan and bonding fee at the loans board knowing that on my own I can’t afford the expensive life at school. Luckily enough I was picked for both.

“We were told to check into our accounts if the money has been deposited, surprisingly, I and other fellow students didn’t find any amount in the accounts. This forced us who did not received our amounts to go to the Dean of Students and find why our money was not deposited. Honestly, we didn’t get a tangible reason to this,” he says.

The needy student added that, they were told that the loans board was not yet processed their amounts.

“We were told that our money was not yet processed by the loans board. In the process of pressuring them on this, others were told to go and check into the accounts where they found the money deposited, so we were shocked of what was happening. We believed that they wanted to use the money for their own purposes,” says a student in an audio.

He reveals that this has been happening for long, that is from first semester and now into second semester.

“This started last semester, and it has been happening all the time. Now this is second semester this still happening. I was just told to go different offices to check this but nothing worked out. We don’t know if this is indeed how it works at the loans board,” he reveals.

He says, he was told to go to the accounts officer who told him that the half of his amount has been deposited into the account and he should go and withdraw.

” I was told by the laison Officer to go to the accounts officer. While there, the accounts officer told me that the half of my loan amount has been deposited into my account. I had questions in my head, why only half?, does this happen with the loans board?,” He says.

The Accounts Officer also told him to go the Dean of Students where he was told for the two (Dean of Students and Accounts Officer) to discuss his matter.

There after, he was asked what if may be given the half of his tuition fee.

To dig deeper into the matter, we tried to talk to the Dean of Students at the institution Davies Mweta who refused this to be happening at the institution.

“I don’t know and in my view, according to the manner in which loans board grants loans.It’s not possible to go to another person, no matter what,” said Mweta.

MUST Communications Manager, James Mphande also refuted concerned student claims.

“This cannot be true because of the way such loans are managed,” said Mphande.

He then referred us to the Laons Board Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Prince Phwetekere.

Upon queried, Phwetekere said the matter has to be done with the University and the Students, saying for them, they just disburse the tuition funds into the University account and it is the institution that further allocates the amount into the students accounts.

Phwetekere disclosed that only upkeep allowances are those that are directly deposited into the students accounts by the board.

The concerned students have however vowed to engage the country’s leadership on the matter for intervention.

Development, Environment

Reunion Insurance pairs with MUST in tree planting exercise

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Reunion Insurance Company Limited in conjunction with Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) on Friday, April 1, 2022 was into planting trees exercise.

This is the company’s part of fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative at the university’s Ndata Campus in Thyolo.

Reunion Insurance in tree planting exercise at MUST

The tree planting exercise was championed under the theme, “Make MUST green Campaign”.

Speaking after the ceremony, Reunion Insurance Technical Manager responsible for Claims & Business Development, Hastings Kapesa said the company believes in adding value to the society and being a very responsible corporate citizen.

Kapesa added that Reunion uses such activities to interact positively with its customers.

“The exercise gives the company opportunity to meet our customers and the wider society by being sensitive to ecological environment and being sustainable to make sure that the future generation will also have the right to benefit from the same environment.

“We are enjoying today through fresh Air and beautifying the surrounding where all living things calls home,” he said.

Kapesa therefore cited that Reunion Insurance will continue supporting MUST in its strategic objective of establishing herbal garden.

“We will assist in innovating herbal medicine in Academy of Medical Sciences which is one of the four faculties at the university,” added.

MUST’ Dean of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Wilson Mandala stated that trees play an important role in insuring that the environment is a safe place to live.

Mandala observes that recent climate change that is causing unfamiliar winds and floods in Malawi and other Southern African countries is as a return of environmental degradation.

He added that if the trend is not controlled through tree planting activities then global warming will continue affecting human settlement lowering agriculture production.

Mandala therefore lauded stakeholders including Reunion Insurance Company for the exercise which will bring meaningful better environmental set up.

Reunion Insurance pumped in MK1,250,000 for the tree planting activity at MUST.

The tree planting exercise attracted MUST and Central High School students, Staff, Management of Reunion Insurance Company,

Almost 1,100 various species of trees have been planted along at the University’s Ndata Campus.

Reunion Insurance is a wholly owned insurance company with almost 17 years of its existence.

The firm has 11 branches across Malawi and its headquarters is at Reunion House formally Lamya House along Masauko Chipembere Highway in Blantyre.

Education, Malawi

MUST clarifies on drop out student Fanizo Majamanda’s fate

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has made a clarification of its student Fanizo Majamanda who is said to be withdrawn from the institution due to tuition fees challenge.

This comes after the institution has noted misreported stories circulating on social media and other media platforms about the alleged student.

Fanizo Majamanda

In a clarification statement, the school’s management says, Fanizo was selected at the institution in 2018 and reported for registration as scheduled.

During the registration, he noted that his fellow students were presenting deposit slips as evidence of fees payment and since he had not paid his fees in advance, he decided to leave the campus the same day for home.

The statement adds that, Fanizo took this decision without contacting or alerting University Authority and that it took a well-wisher, a lady from Lilongwe who upon hearing his situation she contacted the University to consider re-admitting him as she and her colleagues had agreed to support him.

“With this request, Fanizo reported for studies at MUST in 2018, a year after his selection. And despite initially selected into a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, he asked to change programme and was registered for Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology.

“Once he registered, Fanizo never had any fees issues. However,within the academic year, he just disappeared on campus until this month when his stories made headlines on social media,” reads part of the statement.

MUST adds, “When asked, he indicated that he withdrew due to lack of funds for upkeep and that he had no internet enabling gadget. There was no mention of lack of tuition fees.

” As you can appreciate, this time, he also withdrew from campus without notifying any authorities about his situation”.

Meanwhile, the University has informed the well-wishers showing interest to support him in his areas of need that he has once again applied for re-admission and the University is considering his application.

The University has further advised the public to always seek clarification from the authorities if they get any request from any students or persons

Education, Malawi

MUST suspends five students to two years over tuition fees protest

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Management of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) on Thursday March 24, 2022 suspended five students over allegations that they led “school fees balance” illegal protests on February 16, 2022 that caused the indefinite closure of the institution.

According to the statement released by the University’s registrar Martha Sambani, the five have been told to be at home for a period of two years as punishment for their indiscipline actions.

The University’s spokesperson James Mphande has also confirmed the suspension of the five.

Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) campus

The suspended students including Innocent Misinde, Sipho Chipeta, Symon Amos, Clement Yusuf and Precious Nkosi.

Further, the institution has also suspended other two students to stay at home for a one year period whereas the School President and other eleven students have been warned to be suspended if the similar indiscipline malpractice will happen at the institution.

The management has since forgiven six students who it found that they were not fully involved in the illegal protests.

In his reaction, one the eleven students who have been suspended for one year Capital Mangochi told the journalists that he has written a letter to the University’s Vice-Chancellor to forgive him saying he did not take part in the protests.

Meanwhile, the suspended students have threatened to take the matter to court for fair judgement.

Over the past few weeks, the management announced the reopening of the institution on March 29,2022 on conditions including strict observance of ” No fees, No registration” policy where only eligible students who would have cleared their fees balances and formalized their registration by this time will be allowed to sit for examinations.

Education

Malawi Science & Tech varsity student council ushers new leadership: Kalawa replaces Kamanga as President

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-On Monday January 31,2022, the Malawi University of Science and Technology ( MUST) swore in newly elected members of the Student Representative Council (MSRC) at a ceremony that took place at the University’s campus in Thyolo.

The 15 member James Kalawa led MSRC team, takes over from the previous committee whose President was Lampard Kamanga.

Speaking to the new executive, University Registrar Alfred Chinombo called on the new executive to build up a bridge between and University Management.

Kalawa swearing in (from left)

“While you represent the interests of fellow students, there will be times when you will have to advise them against some measures that can bring challenges on campus. As such, you do not have to agree with them. It is a delicate balancing act,” said Chinombo.

The outgoing council’s President Lampard Kamanga thanked the school management for supporting his outgoing committee and urged the University to also support the incoming members for them to succeed.

In his remarks, the new President Kalawa said they are ready to work with the management and students for harmonious environment at the University.

” As a new committee, we are ready to deliver the best so as we make MUST a better place for all. We promise to perform well in our duties,” said Kalawa.

University Chaplain, Reverend Father Roy Makupe administered the oath of office to Kalawa as President, Ellenive Jerenje as Vice President, Arthur MacDonald as General Secretary, Charity Phiri as Vice General Secretary, Trevor Masanga as Treasurer, Tuwekete Nyirenda as Director of Academics, Tacliana Chikwatu as Director of Publications and Public Relations, Issac Samuel as Director of Social Welfare( men), Tamara Mkandawire as Deputy Director of Social Welfare ( women), Felix Nabwenje as Deputy Director for Social Welfare ( men), Emmanuel Mtegha as Director of Religious Affairs, Tamandani Chikandira as Director of Catering, Rashid Alide as Entertainment Director, Noel Lifa as Director of Sports and Francis Chibade as the Speaker of the General Assembly.

Malawi, Technology

MUST host ACIST; Malawi tipped to embrace digital learning system

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment
Leroy Nyalugwe: The man behind Mathematics e-modules

BLANTYRE–(MaraviPost)—The Ministry of Education in Malawi has been tipped to embrace digital learning system in order to make teaching and  learning of science subjects successful and interesting for students and teachers.

In Malawi, many students shun Mathematics saying it is mind-boggling subject.

But Leroy Nyalugwe, Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) student at Mzuzu University, is optimistic that use of ICT is the way to go if Malawi is to register success in implementing the revised secondary school curriculum which has put much emphasis on science subjects.  

Presenting at the African Conference on Information Systems and Technology (ACIST), under the title “Demystifying Teaching of STEM Subjects in Malawi Secondary Schools,” Nyalugwe emphasized on the need to embrace an electronic based approach to teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in secondary schools in Malawi, with community day secondary schools as principal targets.

“Use of electronic modules will help Malawi, as a nation, to continue with undisrupted provisions towards the right to education for the secondary school students, even in the presence of pandemics like COVID 19. In addition,  STEM subjects and topics, which are often regarded as being difficult, and hence not well taught in a number of secondary schools in Malawi even though the curricula rate them as compulsory, needed a demystifying,  leaner-friendly, repeatable approach to their teaching,” he expounded.

Nyalugwe has Mathematics electronic module for the Malawi Secondary School revised curriculum to his credit. The modules are made in MP4 format which are more compatible with portable electronic gadgets like tablets, phablets, laptops etc.

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology (ACIST) is an annual event that brings together researchers, academicians, industry experts and technologists producing knowledge on the relationship between digitization and the key issues in Africa trade and development.

Malawi University of Science and Technology was the host of this year’s event under the ttheme “Digital Innovation for Africa Free Trade & Development“.

The 2021 (7th) edition of ACIST focuses on digital innovation challenges and opportunities for Africa free trade and development.

It is hoped that researchers in Africa and elsewhere will think creatively, broadly, and provocatively about the theme of Digital Innovation for Africa Free Trade & Development from many different theoretical, philosophical, policy and practical perspectives. 

According to ACIST, digital innovation is shaping, to various degrees, all human activities around the world. For some activities which include significant volumes of information exchange, the degrees of digital innovation are very high. This is because digital innovation enables better, faster and cheaper transactions, operations, and decisions.

In Africa, it is positively influencing new ways of trade and development across the continent. With the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) leading to the beginning of trading in January 2021, we envision digital innovation to have a greater positive influence on Africa.

“However, this influence cannot be taken for granted because driving digital innovation is hard work. Positively influencing trade and development requires significant research to produce knowledge on the relationship between digitization and the key issues in Africa trade and development,” statement by the organizers reads in part.

Efforts to know how these researchers will be assisted to have their solutions implemented proved futile as one of the organizers of the 7th ACIST, Dr. Bennett Kankuzi, did not respond to a questionnaire.

Malawi has recently registered a significant progress in the field of technology and there has been a boom of innovations during the Covid-19 epidemic period.

Efforts to know how these researchers will be assisted to have their solutions implemented proved futile as one of the organizers of the 7th ACIST, Dr. Bennett Kankuzi, did not respond to a questionnaire.

 The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) through its Institute of Industrial Research and Innovation (MIIRI) on April 16, 2021, has also taken a step further by introducing Community Innovation Programme where local innovators who have no access to institutions of higher learning are being are mentored by experts.