CALL FOR PROPOSALS - EDTECH@UNIMA2023

BACKGROUND

Malawi public universities are under pressure to increase students’ intake to widen access to higher education. While the pressure has led to large classes in the universities, educational technology is seen to have the potential to promote access against the limited classroom spaces. The possibility of educational technology has become prominent, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, despite the increasing prominence of educational technology to expand access and improve quality of higher education in Malawi (e.g. Chawinga & Zozie, 2016; Zozie & Chawinga, 2018), there is an urgent call for capacitating lecturers in all higher education institutions (Ministry of Education, 2019, p. 33). To complement the Ministry’s proposals for capacitating university lecturers, the Education Foundations Department (University of Malawi) with support from the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST) will hold an event dubbed EdTech@UNIMA2023. An EdTech event as a technology professional learning activity for lecturers is relevant and timely in Malawi as the education sector lacks visibility to showcase various educational technology initiatives currently being undertaken in the country (Ministry of Education, 2019). Accordingly, EdTech@UNIMA2023 will provide a platform for lecturers, university students and other stakeholders to share insights, experiences and innovative educational technology solutions to various challenges facing university education delivery in Malawi.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Individuals or groups of individuals interested in exhibiting/presenting their educational technologies are invited to submit proposals. The proposal must include details of the applicant (s), description of the technology and the instructional problem (s) that the technology addresses, and how the technology can be/is used for teaching and learning in a Malawian university. Where possible, the proposal must also show evidence of the technology’s influence on student learning (e.g. supporting materials in the form of students’ performance, engagement, or references from students and fellow academic members).

All proposals should be submitted to edtech@unima.ac.mw, copy fgondwe@unima.ac.mw and fmtemangombe@unima.ac.mw.

KEY DATES

Submission of proposals: 26th February to 8th April 2023

Confirmation of exhibitions and presentations: 15th April 2023

Registration: 10th to 18th April 2023

EdTech Event: 22nd April 2023

INQUIRIES Dr. Foster Gondwe: +265 888123961 / fgondwe@ unima.ac.mw or Dr Frank Mtemang’ombe: fmtemangombe@unima.ac.mw