ABOUT MUST

The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) was established by an Act of Parliament Number 31 of 2012. Its objective was to promote development, adaptation, transfer and application of science, technology and innovation for macro- and micro-economic development of Malawi.

MUST vision is “a world class centre of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship” to be realised by providing cutting-edge, relevant, and umunthu-centric pedagogical experience in higher education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship which is responsive to societal needs.

The university enrolled its first cohort of students in April 2014. Six months later, it was officially opened on October 24, 2014 by then President and Chancellor, His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. The current Republican President, His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is its present Chancellor.

MUST has four schools - Malawi Institute of Technology (MIT), Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences (NSCES), Bingu School of Culture and Heritage (BISCH), and Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS). These schools are led by Executive Deans and are further divided into departments and sections. The four schools are all operational.

MIT was the first to open in 2014. It was followed by NSCES in 2015. Then BISCH opened its doors in 2016 while AMS was opened in 2017 and targeted the 2018/19 academic year to roll out more academic programmes.

Within 10 years, the MUST has grown from three undergraduate programmes and two postgraduate programmes during its first year in 2014, to 27 undergraduate programmes and 22 postgraduate programmes.

MIT has 10 undergraduate programmes and 13 postgraduate programmes (masters and PhDs). The NSCES has seven undergraduate programmes and four postgraduate programmes while BISCH has five undergraduate programmes and one postgraduate programme. Currently, AMS has five undergraduate programmes and four postgraduate programmes. It is also establishing Diagnostic and Medical Research Centre at the university’s teaching hospital.

All these schools will be adding more programmes.

With nine intakes so far at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, MUST now has a student enrolment of over 3000. In the early years, there were fewer girls’ enrolment but their numbers are slowly picking up, currently standing at around 40 percent.

Apart from academic schools, MUST has the Directorate of Research and Outreach, responsible for research and outreach activities. MUST is also working on various research projects, both on its own and with partners. It is also hosting a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) whose main objective is to assist researchers access global information on prior work in different technological fields.

The University boasts of an industrial research and technology innovation wing called the Malawi Institute of Industrial Research and Innovation (MIIRI). The MIIRI is involved in industrial research, technology development and transfer programmes. MIIRI also houses the University Technology and Innovation Garage where it supports innovative minds to nurture their ideas up to commercialisation.

Vision:

A world class centre of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mission:

To provide a cutting-edge, relevant, and umunthu-centric pedagogical experience in higher education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, responsive to societal needs.

Core Values:

Excellence

Commitment

Professionalism

Integrity

Competitiveness

Openness to diversity

Entrepreneurship

Innovativeness

Umunthu