17 University of Malawi researchers receive grants from Treasury
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has presented a K8.5 million grant to 17 upcoming University of Malawi (Unima) researchers to carry out research in various fields.
The presentation ceremony took place on Thursday at Chancellor College where representatives from government and constituent colleges of UNIMA witnessed the occasion.
Chief Director of Basic and Secondary education in the Ministry of Education, Thokozile Banda said the presentation of the cheques marks the high level commitment of government in the education sector.
She said that government the Ministry would make sure that researches are conducted to produce good results for the benefit of all Malawians.
“Government has gone to establish National Commission for Science and Technology which is charged with coordination of all research activities in the country and that later inform policy making,” Banda explained.
The Chief Director assured students that her ministry shall make sure that resources are put aside every year to support this initiative.
She said plans were underway to increase the grant facility so as to benefit more student researchers.
Banda appealed to Universities to make sure that research is relevant enough to inform policy not just to meet academic requirements.
“We strongly believe that research must be people centred, designed to help address a particular challenge and influence planners on where to allocate resources for effectiveness and the benefit of people of Malawi,” she said.
Vice Chancellor for University of Malawi (UNIMA) Prof. John Kalenga Saka was grateful to the Ministry of Education for supporting the needy graduate students with funds to pursue their different programmes at masters’ level through the initiative.
‘We are very committed to help these young researchers to finish their programmes within the prescribed period of three to four years and we are looking forward to government’s commitment to double or triple funds in the next round, so that there will be growth in the higher education sector,” he said.
Saka explained that the beneficiaries of the grant would sign a contract and open an account with their respective universities where they would provide quarterly and end of project reports to accounts for the funds they have received.
The K 8.5 million was given to 17 students with each receiving K500, 000.00.
They were drawn from Mzuzu University, Chancellor College, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Kamuzu College of Nursing and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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Big up as the money is meant to be a starter pack keep the fire burning young researchers am proud of you.
K500,00.00 (US$650) for research? Really? This country and our universities is a joke. I can’t stop laughing.
MK24 Million for Unima Cadets partying and boozing and only MK8.5 Million for Research.Dziko la malawi silidzatheka.
As far as I know, research is very expensive. I wonder, what type of research are you going to do with this little? Perhaps, not a scientific research which requires a lot of money. I think Prof. Kalenga Saka can agree with me.
Tell us what research you are doing with the money? You can not have the money without projects to research on
K500,000 each? What kind of research are these peanuts going to involve? K500,000? The more like the price of a used Lifo motorcyle.
WHAT TYPE OF RESEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM SUCH A MEAGRE K500,000.00? THIS IS A CAMPAIGN TOOL. MAY BE IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THOSE WHO DID NOT GO TO THE STATE HOUSE. K500,000.00 CATERS FOR ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND TRANSPORT IF IT A SERIOUS RESEARCH UNLESS THEY WILL ASK FLIES AS OUR HEAD OF STATE SAID ONE TIME.