Rashid said this on 2 October 2026, during the Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Public Relations Society of Malawi (PRSM) in Salima.

He said the university recently introduced a Public Relations Degree Programme at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to provide quality training and professional development opportunities for public relations practitioners in the country.

Rashid emphasized that the introduction of specialized training in public relations and communication is important for strengthening the profession, adding that the programmes will equip practitioners with the knowledge, skills and ethical standards required to effectively manage communication in an increasingly complex media environment.

He added that public relations and communication play a strategic role in the management and development of any organization, as they help institutions build relationships with their stakeholders, protect their reputation and communicate effectively with the public.

Rashid therefore urged public relations practitioners to take advantage of the newly introduced programmes to upgrade their qualifications and strengthen their professional capacity.

He said the conference offers an opportunity for interface between training institutions such as MUBAS and the PRSM to ensure that the training provided responds to the evolving needs of the public relations and communication industry.

During the conference, PRSM donated textbooks to Msalura Primary School as part of its corporate social responsibility activities.

The conference concluded with a dinner and awards ceremony, where individuals and organisations were recognised for outstanding contributions to public relations.

Chief Secretary to the Government, Dr. Justin Adack Saidi, received a PRSM Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his dedication and commitment to supporting the Society.