Erasmus+ is a European Union programme that promotes international cooperation in education, training, youth and sport. Through the initiative, universities establish partnerships that facilitate academic collaboration, cultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge and experiences among students and academic staff.

Parents and guardians of the four students, Costance Mauluka, Chioma Dimgba, Chiwisa Mussa and Samuel Nhlema could hardly conceal their tears of joy as they described the opportunity as life-changing for their children.

Malawi Institute of Architects (MIA) President, Architect Steve Musopole, who attended the farewell ceremony, urged the students to make the most of the opportunity by remaining observant, inquisitive and committed to learning throughout their stay in Austria.

“Where you are going, you will see infrastructure that you have never seen before. You must be observant and use every opportunity for learning, even as you sit in a park or go shopping. Let every observation bring you insight into how we can develop infrastructure in this country through architecture,” said Musopole.

The four students, who constitute the second cohort from MUBAS to participate in the exchange programme, departed from Bakili Muluzi International Airport on 29 October 2026 for Vienna, where they will spend three months engaging in academic and cultural exchange activities.

In her remarks, Head of the Department of Architecture, Dr. Grace Khumalo, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, emphasising that the students would be representing not only the university but also the country.

She noted that the programme would enable the students to share knowledge and insights about Malawi's infrastructural landscape while gaining new perspectives from international colleagues, particularly in countries with more advanced infrastructure and urban development.

“Erasmus+ brings invaluable exposure and expands our students' horizons through specialised architecture programmes,” said Dr. Khumalo.

She further observed that infrastructure development in Malawi was progressing at a relatively slow pace, making the exchange programme an important opportunity for students to experience urban design and development on a different scale.

According to Dr. Khumalo, the exposure would help prepare the students to become responsible architects capable of responding effectively to the needs of local communities and emerging challenges, including climate change.

For the participating students, the journey represents a significant milestone in their academic and professional development.

Mussa Simama Chiwisa, a third-year Bachelor of Architecture student, expressed excitement about the opportunity, describing it as an important platform for personal growth and professional advancement.

“Travelling to Vienna allows us to gain first-hand experience of how international architects approach structural design and problem-solving,” said Chiwisa.

He added that, beyond individual development, the initiative would also benefit MUBAS by creating lasting networks and fostering academic collaboration with students and institutions from different parts of the world.

The exchange programme marks another important milestone in MUBAS' efforts to strengthen international academic partnerships and promote integrated learning.

Under the arrangement, participating students will earn academic credits towards their degrees while studying abroad, enabling them to remain academically aligned with their colleagues in Malawi. This is part of the university's broader efforts towards fully operationalising its credit transfer policy.

The departure of the second cohort reinforces MUBAS' commitment to providing students with international exposure, broadening their academic perspectives and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to Malawi's architectural and infrastructural development.