MALAWI: Catholic University of Malawi Celebrates Strides Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic
Chair of Council delivering his speech during the graduation
By Luke Bisani
The Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA), has been geared to strive for growth with plans to set a constituent college of health science in Lilongwe, improve Information and Communications Technology (ICT), setting an online platform for teaching students as a way of reaffirming its holistic approach on education in the country.
Speaking during the 18th Congregation for the award diplomas and degrees to 587 students last Saturday, the Vice-Chancellor Rev. Dr. George Buleya said the institution despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the University continued to strive for more growth in the year 2020.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that during the pandemic, the University has successfully conducted online classes, managed to put its staff members on full pay despite the economic threat that Covid-19 brought to institutions, organisations, and governments in the world.
“Even amidst the Covid-19 crisis, our university has made modest but important strides. In a bid to increase lecture room capacity, we have completed the construction of three mini- lecture theatres. The University has also continued to equip its laboratories in order to create a conducive learning environment,” said Rev. Dr. Buleya.
Rev. Dr. Buleya added that the University has introduced the first-ever diploma programme on adult education in the country in partnership with a German leading organisation on adult education, DVV International.
On his part, the Chairperson of the University Council Rt. Rev. Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga commended the university’s management for making such strides during the pandemic.
“After schools’ closure, we met to discuss on the way forward. If we had not taken the difficult path, we could not have been here to celebrate the success of these graduating students today,” said Bishop Mtumbuka.
Bishop Mtumbuka then challenged staff members to embrace change as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect countries in the world with the number of people being affected going on the rise.
The Bishop Chairperson of the Council also urged the graduating students to be “good stewards” of ‘Mother Earth’ and ambassadors of the poor, urging them to maintain moral and social values.
Concurring with Bishop Mtumbuka, the Chancellor of the University His Grace Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa commended management for the infrastructural developments completed at the university and other achievements registered this year.
Archbishop Msusa also commended the University Council for steering the sustainability of the university during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He then urged the graduating students to remain focused and strive to make more achievements in their lives.
“Look ahead and ask yourselves what people would say about you when your story is written,” said Most Rev. Msusa.
During the 18th Congregation of the Catholic University of Malawi, 6 students graduated with post-graduate degrees, 300 with bachelors’ degrees from CUNIMA’s generic programs. Two hundred and four (204) graduates were from the University’s weekend Distant Education Programme; 16 from Lilongwe satellite centre; and 61 from affiliated colleges which include the Inter Congregational Institute for Philosophical and Religious studies (ICI) in Balaka and St Anthony’s Major Seminary, the ECM’s philosophicum in Mchinji.
