Vice Chancellor of The University of Dundee & VCs of all Malawi public universities address Malawi CPG
The Vice Chancellors of all 6 Public Universities in Malawi joined Professor Iain Gillespie, the Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee in addressing the Scottish Parliament’s Malawi Cross Party Group (CPG) on Tuesday 17th January 2023. In this hybrid event, held in the Holyrood’s David Livingstone Room and by Zoom, over 80 CPG members learned about the university of Dundee’s exciting new links with Malawi. Find Prof Gillespie's presentation here.
In August 2022 Prof Gillespie visited Malawi, signing the Blantyre Declaration with Malawi’s public universities. This is an innovative and far reaching new higher education partnership with Malawi, which has the potential to transform lives and support communities across both nations.
Chaired by Co-Convener, Dr Alasdair Alan MSP, the Malawi CPG heard from Prof Gillespie in person with input via Zoom from Malawi by Prof Sosten Chiotha, Regional Director of the Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Southern and Eastern Africa and one of Malawi’s first Vision 2063 Champions and a board member for the African Institute for Development.
There were then brief reflections from Malawian partner Vice Chancellors from each of the public Universities:
- Prof Address Mauakowa Malata (VC, Malawi University of Science and Technology)
- Prof Samson Sajidu (VC, University of Malawi)
- Prof Emmanuel Kaunda (VC, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR))
- Prof John Saka, Vice-Chancellor Mzuzu University (MZUNI)
- Prof Mac Mallewa, Vice-Chancellor Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS)
- Prof Nancy Chitera, Vice-Chancellor Malawi University of Business and Applied Science (MUBAS)
There was an informative presentation by the Cooperative College’s Director of Learning and Teaching Ali Longden on emerging new work between the Cooperative College and the University of Dundee, in Malawi.
Comments and questions which followed conveyed the excitement about and strong enthusiasm for the level of engagement which had been shared between Malawi institutions and the University of Dundee.
A presentation was made to outgoing ex-officio Secretary of the CPG, David Hope-Jones, OBE who is moving on from his position as Chief Executive of the Scotland Malawi Partnership after almost 15 years. Speaking on behalf of the Co-Conveners and Deputy Co-Conveners, Liam McArthur MSP thanked David for the huge contribution that he has made to the bilateral relationship and to the life of the Malawi CPG, noting that this had been recognised in a motion in Parliament.