The University of Malawi (UNIMA) has initiated a drive to strengthen its leadership and academic partnerships. According to a university statement, UNIMA recently held a two-day orientation for executive deans, directors, and department heads to enhance management and governance following the delinking of its former constituent colleges. Vice-Chancellor Professor Samson Sajidu described the initiative as an important investment in strengthening leadership. In a related development, UNIMA hosted a delegation from South Africa's North-West University to explore academic collaborations, particularly involving the new Creative Arts degree and music programs. The partnership also resulted in the appointment of UNIMA's Head of Economics, Professor Gowokani Chijere Chirwa, as a professor within a North-West University school.
In other university news, a student from the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) achieved international recognition at the World Food Forum in Rome. According to LUANAR, Applied Data Science Master's student Tiyanjane Banda and her team reached the finals of the global youth Transformative Research Challenge. The team secured a $10,000 grant to refine a predictive analytics project that uses machine learning to forecast food insecurity at the district level up to 90 days in advance.
Meanwhile, LUANAR's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is conducting a stakeholder validation workshop at the Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on October 21 and 22, according to the university. The event aims to review new training manuals on Antimicrobial Stewardship and Animal Welfare. Developed with financial backing from Brooke East Africa, the modules will be used to train local veterinarians and para-veterinarians.