Prof Address Malata appointed vice chancellor of Malawi University of Science and Technology
President Peter Mutharika has announced the appointment of Professor Address Malata as first Vice Chancellor for Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST).
The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to Government, George Mkondiwa on Wednesday.
According to MUST website, Professor Malata officially reported at MUST on February 25, 2016 as first Deputy Vice Chancellor deputing acting Vice Chancellor Professor Moses Kwapata .
She was previously Principal of Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) under the University of Malawi.
Malata is not new to MUST having worked in the MUST Council .
According to MUST website, Professor Malata said she knows public universities are facing some challenges but she is prepared for them.
“Some of the challenges include inefficient resource mobilisation and utilisation through heavy dependency on government, absence of open performance appraisal system for employees, absence of regular institutional and programme evaluation systems, inability to meet increased demand for enrolment in various programmes, high percentage of unqualified academic staff and high staff turnover, inadequate physical infrastructure, inadequate ) teaching and learning materials, stiff competition from other institutions, partly due to globalisation, and slow progress in embracing ICT,” she explained.
She said there are legal and statutory tools and plenty of lessons from across the globe on how best to deal with most of these challenges.
MUST is the brainchild of the country’s former president late Bingu wa Mutharika.
The science and technology university offers five-year bachelor’s degree programmes in biomedical studies, chemical engineering and metallurgical engineering and a master of science in innovation programme.
The university will have four schools — the Malawi Institute of Technology, Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences and a fourth school still under consideration.
People’s Republic of China which has fully funded the construction of the university with a loan worth US$89 million (31billion Malawi kwacha) .
Fact file
Professor Malata completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Malawi and later pursued a Master of Science in Nursing at Edith Cowan University, in Australia, where her work focused on labour and birth information needs of first time mothers in Malawi.
She received her doctorate from Edith Cowan University in 2004, where her doctoral research focused on development and evaluation of a childbirth education programme for Malawian women.
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IF CHILIMA DRIVEN REFORM PROGRAMME IS TO BE MEANINGFUL, POSITIONS SUCH AS VICE CHANCELLOR SHOULD NEVER BE BASED ON PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS.WE KNOW OUR MALAWIAN PRESIDENTS, THEIR BLOOD IS ALWAYS FULL OF TRIBALISM, I MEAN OUR PRESIDENTS, PAST,PRESENT AND EVEN FUTURE ONES AS LONG AS THEY ARE MALAWIANS.OTHERWISE REFORMS WILL JUST BE ANOTHER EMPTY SONG,WASTE OF TIME,EFFORT AND MONETARY RESOURCES.ALREADY THE REFORM PROGRAMME HAS JUST BEEN A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATING SOME PEOPLE, FREEZING SOME POSITIONS WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN FILLED BY THE MANY CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAVE BEEN ON SAME POSITIONS FOR LONG YET A LOT OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES CONTINUE TO… Read more »
The government has double standards. UNIMA Vice Chancellor compete for the job in an interview, so too is Mzuni and recently I have seen an advert in the local press for the position of Vice Chancellor at LUANAR. Why should MUST have an appointed Vice Chancellor. The President,must level the playing field otherwise nepotism will not take this country anywhere. Should we assume that this is the turning point when Vice Chancellors will simply be getting jobs on a silver platter instead of facing competition to get the cream? I think the President is abusing his powers – the mistake… Read more »
is her qualification relevant with the MUST Goals? kapena angosankhapo just because she comes from the Lhomwe area
Congratulations Address!! Very humble lady who was brought up in a highly respected christian family of Dr. Mgawi and Late Mrs Mgawi of Lilongwe. Wishing you good luck and be blessed my principal and mentor.
Congratulations Professor Address Malata. Our very own first woman Vice Chancellor. Well deserved.
Congratulations prof Malata
Congratulations Prof Malata! Proud of you and you really deserve it.
Nurse/Midwife, An educator, A role model and mother to many, you deserve it. Congratulations to you my principal. More favors to you.
Bravo…. Address Malata,you are coming from far, a pride of this country you are. I congratulate you and trust that the Lord you serve will see you through.
she deserves it