First-years equipped to start university journey

Several weeks ago, the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) released the names of students who have qualified for admission to various public universities. Among those who have been selected, some of the best and brightest have made it to the University of Malawi.

Following this announcement, after a long break, the institution has reopened its campus. The campus is once again lively with a significant number of new faces, all beaming with excitement as they explore the university's corridors and enjoy the atmosphere of the Great Hall. The University management has welcomed the 2200 first-year students with a one-week orientation program, during which they will be given information that will help them to easily navigate life at UNIMA.

On 18th September, 2023, the first day of the orientation programme, the students were met by Dr. Jonas Mwatseteza, the Director of Students Affairs; Mrs. Towera Mwathunga, the Assistant Registrar (Academic); Ms. Roseby Makawa, a Lecturer in Art History; and student ambassadors.

During the orientation, in his remarks, Dr. Mwatseteza enlightened the students with various pieces of information. Some of the information shared included the University of Malawi’s structure and details of campus accommodation selection, among other topics.

Some of the activities observed among the first-year students, aside from admiring the fascinating features of the Chirunga campus, included several students interacting with student ambassadors, building relationships with them, and, most importantly, asking various questions on how best they can navigate campus life as they embark on their tertiary journey of education.

The first day of orientation concluded with a presentation by the Assistant Registrar (Academic), who clarified various academic matters, including student registration, accessing timetables, and the examination process.

For the remaining days of the orientation, the students will be addressed by Executive Deans and Heads of Department. They will also engage with mobile service providers and representatives of banking institutions, some of which offer special account packages to university students. The students will also be introduced to the ICT services available at UNIMA, and told how they can apply for fees loans from the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB). The orientation is expected to conclude on Saturday, 23rd September, 2023.

The campus will welcome back continuing students on 25th September, 2023.