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University of Malawi

{{Short description|University in Zomba, Malawi}}

{{Infobox university

| name = University of Malawi

| image_name = Universityofmalawishield.jpg

| image_size = 180px

| motto =

| established = {{Start date and age|1964}}

| type =

| president =

| vice_chancellor = Professor Samson Sajidu

| provost =

| city = {{flagicon|Malawi}} Zomba

| state =

| country = Malawi

| undergrad =

| postgrad =

| faculty =

| campus = Urban

| website = [http://www.unima.mw]

| endowment =

| colors =

| logo =

}}

The University of Malawi (UNIMA) is a public university established in 1965 and until 4 May 2021, when the university underwent a delinking, was composed of four constituent colleges located in Zomba, Blantyre, and Lilongwe. Of the four colleges, the largest is Chancellor College in Zomba (now the University of Malawi under Vice-Chancellor Professor Samson Sajidu). It is part of the Malawian government educational system. The last Vice-Chancellor was Professor John Kalenga Saka.

History

The University of Malawi was founded a few months after Malawi Independence.{{cite web|url=http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_University%20of%20Malawi |title=University of Malawi |publisher=SARUA |access-date=2010-12-27}} The first enrollment consisted of 90 students in Blantyre. Teaching began in 1965 in Blantyre, and within two years the Institute of Public Administration at Mpemba, the Soche Hill College of Education and the Polytechnic in Blantyre, and Bunda College in Lilongwe became colleges of the university. In 1973, all the constituents of the university apart from the polytechnic and Bunda College moved to Zomba and were merged into Chancellor College. In 1979, Kamuzu College of Nursing became a college of the university, and in 1991 the College of Medicine in Blantyre was formed as a further constituent college.

=Student Movements for Multi-Party Rule (1992)=

During the movement toward the multiparty rule, UNIMA students participated in a protest that was organized by themselves as a part of fighting for their educational freedom.{{cite web|url=http://www.njas.helsinki.fi/pdf-files/vol13num2/chirambo.pdf |title=Afrikka |access-date=2010-12-27}} In March 1992, when Catholic Bishops in Malawi issued a Lenten Pastoral Letter that criticized Banda and his government, students of the University of Malawi at Chancellor College and the Polytechnic joined in through protests and demonstrations in support of the letter. This forced the authorities to close the campuses.

=Youth for Freedom and Democracy=

Youth for Freedom and Democracy (YFD) is a student political pressure group on campus. They publish the "Weekly Political Update" that is circulated to students on campus.{{cite web|url=http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110923205117604|title=MALAWI: Police quiz academics over pressure group - University World News|website=www.universityworldnews.com|access-date=2017-12-20}} They have been critical of Malawi's governance, and of the Paladin Energy mining company. In mid-September, Malawian police arrested several members of the group. They also arrested 21-year-old Black Moses, president of the YFD and interrogated him. A week later, 25-year-old Robert Chasowa, a fourth-year engineering student at the Malawi Polytechnic was found dead.{{cite web |url=http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/09/25/university-student-death-ruled-suicide-police/ |title=University student death ruled suicide -police | Malawi news, Malawi - NyasaTimes breaking online news source from Malawi |website=www.nyasatimes.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928002947/http://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi/2011/09/25/university-student-death-ruled-suicide-police/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead}} Police ruled this a suicide but critics believe that he was murdered.

Constituent colleges and academics

Image:Polytechnic blantyre.jpg

=Current colleges=

==Chancellor College, based in Zomba==

Chancellor College is the largest college of the constituent colleges of the University of Malawi. It is also known as 'Chanco'. The college has five faculties: Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Science and Faculty of Education.{{cite web|url=http://www.chanco.unima.mw/|title=University of Malawi {{!}} Chancellor College|website=www.chanco.unima.mw|access-date=2017-12-20}} Departments service each faculty as follows:

Education: Curriculum and Teaching Studies and Educational Foundations

Humanities: African Languages and Linguistics, Classics, English, Fine and Performing Arts, French, Language and Communication Skills, Philosophy and Theology and Religious Studies.

Science: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography and Earth Sciences, Home Economics, Physics, Mathematical Sciences.

Social Science: Economics, History, Psychology, Political and Administrative Studies and Sociology.

==The Polytechnic, Blantyre Campus==

The highest and most popular institution in Malawi offers various technical and vocational training based on national and regional needs.

Polytechnic has fifteen departments offering undergraduate degrees in accounting, business administration, management, civil(hons), mechanical(honors) and electrical engineering(hons), architecture and land management, environmental management, computing and information technology, journalism, language and communication, mathematics and statistics, physics and biochemical sciences, technical education and quantity surveying.{{cite web|url=http://www.poly.ac.mw/|title=University Malawi {{!}} Polytechnic|website=www.poly.ac.mw|language=en|access-date=2017-12-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722222931/http://www.poly.ac.mw/|archive-date=2011-07-22}}

Polytechnic offers postgraduate programs in business administration, infrastructure development and transport management in response to the emerging needs of the industry and the pressure from the native baccalaureate graduates. After being delinked from the University of Malawi, The Polytechnic now operates as the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) which has recently launched the first UniPod in Malawi.

=Former colleges=

==College of Medicine==

The College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing delinked from the University of Malawi and combined to form the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in 2019.

==Kamuzu College of Nursing, based in Lilongwe==

The College of Medicine and Kamuzu College of Nursing delinked from the University of Malawi and combined to form the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in 2019.

==Bunda College, Lilongwe==

Bunda College of Agriculture offers BSc's, MSc's and PhD degrees in agriculture, Environmental Sciences and Development Studies.{{cite web|url=http://buncoalumni.tripod.com/id13.html|title=BUNDA COLLEGE WEBSITE|website=buncoalumni.tripod.com|access-date=2017-12-20}} Its mission is to advance and promote knowledge,skills,self-reliance and sound character for "sustainable food production and utilization; Improving income, food security and nutrition; and Conservation and management of biodiversity, the environment and natural resources.{{cite web|url=http://www.bunda.unima.mw/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040730212230/http://www.bunda.unima.mw/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 July 2004|title=Bunda College of Agriculture|access-date=5 March 2018}}

It is situated in Lilongwe 35.2  km from the capital city center. Nearby is the college farm serving commercial, practical, academic and research purposes.

Following the restructuring of universities in Malawi in 2012 by the then President Bingu wa Mutharika, Bunda college is no longer part of the University of Malawi. Now Bunda College forms part of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). The university has three campus, i.e. Bunda campus, the City campus and the NRC campus.

  • Institute of Public Administration
  • Soche Hill College of Education
  • Malawi College of Accountancy

Enrollment

The University of Malawi had 6,257 full-time students in 2007. Of those, 6226 were Malawian citizens, 26 were from SADC countries and 5 were from other, non-SADC countries.

Vice-Chancellors of the university

Notable alumni

See also

References

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{{Universities in Malawi}}

{{Association of African Universities}}

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University of Malawi

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1964

Category:Medical schools in Malawi