By Burnett Munthali
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka, SC, today hosted a meeting with the leadership of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) at his office in Lilongwe.
The delegation was led by NCHE Chief Executive Officer, Ms Ambumulire Phiri, who provided the Minister with an overview of the Council’s mandate as the regulatory body for higher education in Malawi.
Ms Phiri briefed Minister Msaka on NCHE’s key priorities for the current year and the year ahead, emphasising the Council’s focus on strengthening quality assurance and improving programme relevance across universities and colleges.
She highlighted NCHE’s commitment to ensuring that graduates are competitive on the global market, noting that the alignment of training programmes with national development priorities is central to the Council’s work.
The CEO underscored the importance of transforming higher education to meet the evolving needs of the country, stressing that regulatory oversight is essential to maintain academic standards and credibility.
Minister Msaka expressed his appreciation for NCHE’s continued efforts to uphold standards and promote excellence in higher education.
He acknowledged the critical role the Council plays in guiding universities and colleges to deliver programmes that are relevant, practical, and responsive to Malawi’s socio-economic development needs.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating closely with NCHE to ensure higher education institutions produce graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills required for national progress.
He further encouraged the Council to continue advocating for innovative approaches to curriculum development, research, and industry partnerships that strengthen the higher education sector.
The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism that sustained collaboration would contribute to a more dynamic, competitive, and high-quality higher education system in Malawi.