MUST courts industry captains

The Malawi University of Science and Technology on February 9, 2022 organised a working dinner to interact with captains of industry to explore best ways of establishing partnership in the pursuit of industrialization which is one of the pillar under Malawi 2063.

MUST has particularly chosen to focus on industrialization among the three pillars under MW2063 with the belief that with industrialization, it was easy to achieve the other two pillars of agricultural productivity and urbanization.

During the event, MUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Address Malata shared with the industry leadership the university’s strategic direction for the next five years and called on the partners to engage MUST on what they think the university can best contribute towards Mw2063.

Professor Malata also called on the industry to open for collaboration on research, innovation and other areas for mutual benefit to MUST and their institutions, saying the university has knowledge and skills that can be utilized by the industry.

Speaking on behalf of the industry, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer for Press Corporation Limited, Dr Lyton Chithambo, urged universities to be aggressive in their interactions with industry.

“We expect the academia to be able to analyse policies and approach us on how the policies would affect our operations if we do not change some of the ways we do business. In the course of this, they should also be able sell their expertise on how they can help us to strategically position ourselves so that we benefit more from such policies,” he said, adding that when in partnership with industry, there is also need for universities to move with speed by cutting down on bureaucracy.

Principal Secretary for Industry, Francis Zhuwawo said it was government’s expectation that the industry can partner with institutions of higher education to realise growth and modernization, adding the market out there is very competitive hence the need for cutting edge technologies to drive operations of the local private sector.