The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has introduced an academic restructuring to increase its higher education capacity, according to Ecofin Agency. Announced on March 31, the public university will now hold two annual student intakes in January and August. The plan will increase the university's academic offerings to between 30 and 35 programs and enroll approximately 2,500 students by 2029. To accommodate the growing student body, MUBAS plans to convert 700 to 900 existing housing units into new student residences for 320 additional learners.
The reform also implements a fully semester-based calendar to correct inefficiencies in the previous academic system. Under the old model, a student who failed a single subject was required to repeat the entire academic year. The new structure allows students to retake exams at the end of each semester and proceed with their studies without major interruptions.
Minister of Education Bright Msaka has formally endorsed the changes, urging MUBAS leadership to maintain strict educational standards and affordable housing costs as enrollment grows. The policy change is designed to address youth unemployment and a skills mismatch in the labor market. According to Ecofin Agency, data from the Copenhagen Consensus Center shows that more than 40 percent of highly qualified Malawian youth currently work in low-productivity or informal jobs.