UNIMAX Partner Group geared to advance demographic research
The University of Malawi, through the Department of Sociology and Population Studies, hosted officials from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research and launched the UNIMAX Group Kick-Off Workshop on 24th and 25th February 2025 at the Malawi Sun Hotel and Conference Centre in Blantyre. The workshop aimed to strengthen international research collaboration in population and social data innovation.
The delegation from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) was led by its Director, Professor Mikko Myrskylä. The University of Malawi team was led by Dr Ben John Malunga, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Population Studies.
The workshop brought together international and national experts from academia, as well as representatives from the public and private sectors, including the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU), and the African Institute for Development Policy, among others.
The Executive Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Emmanuel Ngwira, officially opened the workshop, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor. In his opening remarks, Dr Ngwira welcomed all participants and stated that the establishment of the Partner Group between the University of Malawi and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research represents a significant milestone in the University’s research excellence agenda. “This collaboration with MPIDR is both timely and transformative,” he said.
He added that the launch of the partnership marks an important step in strengthening international collaboration between the two institutions. As a globally renowned research institution, the Max Planck Institute brings vast technical expertise and methodological excellence. Through this collaboration, the University of Malawi stands to benefit immensely in terms of capacity building, technical support, and skills development.
UNIMAX was officially established in September 2025 with support from the Max Planck Society and will run for five years. The primary aim of the Partner Group is to advance state-of-the-art demographic research in sub-Saharan Africa and to strengthen bilateral collaboration between the University of Malawi and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR).
Professor Mikko Myrskylä stated that the partnership is highly significant for the University of Malawi and for Malawian society at large. It represents a strategically important collaboration that advances research capacity while addressing issues directly relevant to the country’s development trajectory. By bringing together the expertise and resources of the University of Malawi and the Max Planck Society, the partnership creates an opportunity to generate innovative and impactful demographic research.
“Through this collaboration, we are combining the strengths of both institutions. The University of Malawi contributes deep contextual knowledge and local research expertise, while our German partners provide advanced methodological experience and technical capacity,” Professor Myrskylä said. “Together, we aim to break new ground in understanding how family formation processes unfold across the life course of Malawian young adults.”
During the workshop, participants engaged in panel discussions and research paper presentations.
