UNIMA and India Launch First Chair of Indian Studies

Barely a few weeks after the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Amararam Gujar, visited the University of Malawi, the University and the Government of India, through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29th September, 2025 to establish the first-ever Chair of Indian Studies at UNIMA.

The MoU was signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samson Sajidu, and the High Commissioner of India in Malawi, on behalf of the ICCR.

This ground-breaking partnership is expected to enhance academic knowledge, foster institutional linkages, and increase awareness about India, while also strengthening the longstanding relations between the two nations. Importantly, it will advance UNIMA’s internationalisation agenda.

“This Memorandum of Understanding covers a number of areas of collaboration between us, as the University of Malawi, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, represented today by the Indian High Commission,” said Professor Sajidu. “We are setting up what we call the ICCR Chair. By establishing this chair, it means we will be receiving Indian professors who will come and teach in areas of interest.”

The MoU also paves the way for student exchange programmes, creating opportunities for UNIMA students to study at Indian universities for short periods and benefit from shared academic and cultural experiences.

After the signing ceremony, the High Commissioner toured the University Library to view the space dedicated to the newly established India Study Corner. To support this initiative, the High Commissioner donated over 100 books and a desktop computer. During the tour, he expressed hope that the Study Corner will inspire students to explore India’s history, culture, and perspectives on global issues, deepening their appreciation of India’s role in the world.

This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for UNIMA, making it the first university in Malawi to host such an arrangement, and positioning it as a hub for global academic exchange.