March 16, 2026, marked another important milestone in the partnership between MUST and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) as the two signed an MoU in Lilongwe to strengthen their collaboration over the next five years.

The previous MoU between the institutions expired in 2023. 

This is the MoU that saw the establishment of the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies (PDSS) programme under the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage. 

The programme, offered to men and women in uniform from various countries in the region at MDF's Command and Staff College in Salima, provides academic grounding in strategic and security studies and has so far enrolled five cohorts of students. 

The earlier agreement also led to the launch of the Centre for Strategic Studies, jointly run by MUST and MDF.

Under the new MoU, the scope of collaboration has been to include expanded to include joint academic training, collaborative research, staff exchange and capacity building, work-integrated learning opportunities for students, and technology development.

Key areas of cooperation will, among others, include maritime and airspace security, metallurgy, disaster risk management, ICT, cybersecurity, drone technology, music, language studies, medical sciences, chemical and biosecurity, indigenous security ecosystems, search and rescue operations, mineral and energy security, engineering, and other emerging fields.

The Centre for Strategic Studies will also continue to be jointly implemented by the two institutions as a platform for research, dialogue, and training in strategic and security-related issues.

The MoU was signed by the MDF Commander, General George Jaffu Jr., and MUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Address Malata. 

Also in attendance were other senior officials from both MUST and MDF.