NEWS:

17 Nov, 2016


The President being installed as Chancellor of the University


LUANAR on Wednesday 16th November 2016 graduated 889 graduates from its Bunda and NRC campuses. The graduation took place at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.


At the event, the State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika was inaugurated as the Chancellor of the University.


This was done following LUANAR’s Act of 2011 states that there shall be a chancellor of the University who shall be the head of the University. And that the chancellor whenever present shall preside at all ceremonial and other congregations of the University and shall in the name of the University, confer all degrees, diplomas and certificates of the University.


Speaking at this function, the newly inaugurated LUANAR Chancellor urged students to focus on entrepreneurship emphasizing that the country needs graduates who can create jobs as well as occupy jobs.


“I would like therefore to challenge the University to develop students who can become entrepreneurs and future business leaders. We need graduates who can aggressively participate in our direct investment program,” said Professor Mutharika.


In addition the Chancellor challenged universities to be the first place for championing and accepting change saying university education will never change unless we change our culture of thinking.
“We cannot improve the quality of education by financing it the same way we have financed it for the last fifty years,” he said.


The President further emphasized on the need for good management and governance in universities saying the government empowered council and management to govern the universities on its behalf.


“To every Chairperson of Council and Vice Chancellor, let me say this. Malawians expect you to be visibly active in managing your university on behalf of Government,” he said.


Speaking at the same function, LUANAR Vice Chancellor, Professor George Kanyama Phiri said in keeping with the spirit of being an entrepreneurial University, the University is involved in various resource mobilization initiatives aimed at increasing the financial resource base.


“For example the University has revitalized Bunda Farm and has to this effect opened a farm produce selling outlet in the city of Lilongwe. The University will soon open a business centre and filling station,” said Professor Kanyama Phiri.


He said the University is also undertaking a business process reengineering of the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development as one of the reform areas.


“Also as a way of reducing dependency on government coffers the University will soon launch a seed company to assist smallholder farmers to access quality seeds and improve their incomes,” he said.


LUANAR was established as a fully-fledged University through an Act of Parliament No. 22 of 2011 and was operationalized on 1st July 2012.



Written By: Patricia Nkhoma