By Durell Namasani
Malawi’s Magomero Community College is poised to forge a transformative partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the United Kingdom, a collaboration that could eventually open doors for social welfare students to access opportunities in the British job market. Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha led a Malawian delegation this week in negotiations over a proposed memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening social services through research, training, and capacity building.
Professor Neil Mansfield, NTU’s Executive Dean of Research, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, noting the university’s willingness to offer PhD programmes for Malawian students and to develop institutional links with Magomero Community College. He highlighted the potential for the partnership to upgrade the college’s academic offerings, enabling it to deliver degrees that align with UK standards. “We are interested in the areas the Minister has raised, and our experience working in Uganda, Kenya and other countries allows us to look forward to this partnership,” Mansfield said.
Minister Navicha emphasised the mutual benefits of the collaboration, calling for expertise to modernise Malawi’s social services while offering NTU access to the country’s rich oral and practical traditions. “We need your expertise to modernise our services, but as a country we offer a rich oral and practical history based on people’s lived experiences that would boost the university’s research and academic profile,” she stated. She underscored the administration’s commitment to empowering communities through increased investment in social services, pointing to critical areas needing support, including persons with disabilities, individuals with albinism, the elderly, and efforts to keep girls in education. She also noted the gap in mental health services, describing NTU’s potential contribution as a “game changer.”
NTU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Sarah Speight confirmed that the agreement aligns with the university’s global outreach strategy, adding that Navicha’s visit came at a pivotal moment as NTU develops programmes focused on local and indigenous knowledge systems. During her visit, the Minister delivered a lecture to social work students at the NTU Graduate School, inviting them to experience firsthand the challenges and rewards of delivering social services in resource-limited settings in Malawi.
The memorandum of understanding is scheduled for signing in May, marking a significant step toward international cooperation in social welfare development.
