MBS Director General Symon O. Mandala made the call on 3 November 2026 when he presided over the opening of the Third School of Education, Communication and Media Studies (SECOMS) Conference Malawi at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) Main Campus in Blantyre.

Mandala, who was the Guest of Honour, said academic research should address societal challenges, respond to commercial needs and inform the development of practical national policies.

“Industry must add value to products through research conducted by universities,” he said, adding that effective communication between the private sector and higher education institutions would encourage industry players to fund research that responds directly to market needs.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancelor at the same event, MUBAS Executive Dean of the School of Business and Economic Sciences, Dr Rabiya Hanif, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to contributing to the Malawi 2063 Agenda through the development and delivery of relevant curricula that support the country’s development aspirations.

Dr Hanif said the university continues to organise conferences and seminars to promote collaboration and engagement with industry players, researchers and policymakers. Such engagements, she said, are essential in ensuring that academic programmes respond to societal needs, industry expectations and government development priorities.

She further noted that the university would continue contributing to human capital development and national dialogue through research and innovation.

“As a show of our commitment to the socio-economic development of the country, today, as part of the activities at this conference, we are launching nine new programmes in the School of Education, Communication and Media Studies, including a bachelor’s degree in development communication, a doctorate degree in Communication Science and a diploma in plumbing just to mention a few,” she said.

One of the conference's keynote speakers, Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) Executive Director Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between higher education and vocational training.

He said universities and technical colleges complement each other by combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills, adding that closer collaboration between the two would help produce graduates equipped to meet the country's skills needs.

Sichiola also urged institutions such as MUBAS to contribute to capacity building by training and graduating technical teachers who could serve in the technical colleges that the government is expanding across the country.

In his remarks, Dean of the School of Education, Communication and Media Studies, Dr Kizito Kanyoma, thanked TEVETA for its financial support towards organising the conference. He also acknowledged the contributions of other partners, including the Malawi Bureau of Standards.

Dr Kanyoma further recognised the role played by industry partners in providing students with internship opportunities, which enable them to gain practical experience and complement their academic training.

He therefore called on institutions and other industry players to strengthen their collaboration with the university by participating in curriculum development, offering internship opportunities and providing feedback to help improve the quality and relevance of academic programmes.

Meanwhile, members of staff and researchers were encouraged to ensure that their research findings do not remain unused but instead contribute to policy formulation and community practice.

Students were also reminded of their future responsibility as communicators and journalists in telling Malawi's story, with emphasis placed on the importance of professionalism and the responsibility that comes with the role.