UNIMA and University of Rovuma formalize partnership
In a ceremony loaded with expectation, the Universities of Malawi (UNIMA) and Rovuma (UniRovuma) formalized on Wednesday, 9th August, 2023 in the city of Lichinga, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which establishes the main lines for exchanges in different areas between the two higher education institutions.
The MoU was initialed on the Campus of UniRovuma – Niassa Extension by the respective Vice-Chancellors, namely, Professors Samson Sajidu, from the University of Malawi and Mário Jorge Brito dos Santos, from the host institution.
The signing of the MoU paves way for the implementation of several joint projects, namely, international graduation and post-graduation programs, the training and qualification of the teaching staff and researchers in the agricultural, natural, biological, chemical, engineering, English language and accounting sciences.
Also included in the partnership are plans for the mobility of professors, students and administrative staff; research and joint publications and cultural and sports exchanges.
During the ceremony, Professor Samson Sajidu said that his institution is determined to offer joint degrees, increase the international mobility of professors and students, strengthen adherence to the international standards of university education. He vowed that UNIMA’s partnership with UniRovuma is one that is bound to produce results that satisfy both institutions.
“Today is a significant milestone in the world of education, as we launch ourselves into a new direction of teaching and learning, student and faculty exchanges, research collaboration, and joint program development, among many other benefits that lie ahead,” he remarked.
Professor Sajidu added that the signed MoU fits perfectly with his country's vision and the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan defined by his institution, which aim, among other points, to increase access to higher education.
“Signing this memorandum is not just a product, but a watershed for our two Universities and that is the source of our satisfaction,” the UNIMA’s Vice-Chancellor emphasized.
During the ceremony, it was also announced that Professor Sajidu will travel to Rovuma University in Nampula for a visit at the invitation of Professor Brito dos Santos in October, 2023.
Taking his turn to speak, Professor Brito dos Santos observed that the signing of the MoU with UNIMA represents the beginning of a partnership that is intended to be fruitful for both institutions and that it will allow the implementation of joint projects in the areas of teaching, research, extension and university innovation.
He said the partnership will allow the two Universities to mutually strengthen each other, making use of the competences and strengths that each of these institutions presents.
“It will allow us to focus on the horizons of each of the institutions through the exchange of experiences, from the contexts in which each University is implanted, with strong potential in terms of development of science and scientific innovation,” said Prof. Brito dos Santos.
He added that the signing of the memorandum “makes perfect sense for both countries” as they are two sister nations, with a long history of collaboration and sharing a diversity of resources, such as Lake Niassa, the Shire River, and railway transportation. He noted the commonality of languages, as well as common policies at the SADC level, among others.
The ceremony was spiced by a tour of the exhibitions by students from Education Science, who displayed some of products that they offer to their surrounding communities, and recitals by students whose display emphasized the togetherness of the two nations.
