Minister of Education, Science and Technology Hon. Bright Msaka, SC, made the call on 29 September 2026 at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) in Blantyre during the signing ceremony of public sector reform commitments.

Msaka said the commitments were aimed at improving the way public institutions operate and ensuring that resources invested in the education sector produce measurable results.

He urged institutional leaders to take ownership of the reforms and ensure that they translate into improved performance and better services.

“If Malawi is to achieve the transformation envisioned under Malawi 2063, our education institutions must be capable of producing the knowledge, skills and innovations required by a modern and productive economy,” he said.

Msaka reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to providing policy direction and creating an appropriate legislative and regulatory environment to support the implementation of the reforms.

He also said the Government would work with institutional councils, boards, management and relevant public sector reform authorities to monitor progress and address emerging challenges.

MUBAS Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Nancy Chitera said the reforms would help the university strengthen its contribution to Malawi’s development while improving its financial and institutional sustainability.

She said MUBAS had identified five key areas for reform, namely agriculture, industrialisation, human capital development, financial sustainability and governance.

“The reforms are designed to position MUBAS as a more productive, industrial-oriented, accessible, financially sustainable and effectively governed institution,” she said.

Chitera said the reforms would also enhance the university’s focus on applied research, innovation, commercialisation and skills development.

She cited the Agriculture Mechanisation Unit, MUBAS Industrial Park and MUBAS Commercial Limited as some of the initiatives being pursued to diversify the university’s revenue sources and reduce reliance on Government funding.

The university is also seeking to expand access to higher education through the establishment of additional satellite centres in Lilongwe, Mangochi and at the Mudi Campus in Blantyre.

The ceremony brought together officials from public universities and other education institutions, including the University of Malawi (UNIMA), MUBAS, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) and Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB).