This has been done with the collaboration of the project of Strengthening Higher Education Access in Malawi (SHEAMA) which is funded by the USAID and Arizona University.

Students have been selected from the rural areas and Community Day Secondary Schools for the sake of reaching out to those who may not have the privilege to have access to higher learning.

Speaking during the launch which took place on Monday, September 14th 2020, SHEAMA’s Chief of Party, Dr Zikani Kaunda, explained that the aim of the project is to increase access to qualified students but somehow could not have the opportunity to further their education.

“There are over 80,000 students who are just idle in Malawi. We are targeting them, where by they will be imparted with employable skills so that they are able to fend for themselves and employ others.” Dr Kaunda said.

In his remarks, the Principal Professor Grant Kulunga thanked the SHEAMA project team for the sponsorship of this unique course.

“Apart from the normal lectures, we have engaged the industry which also participated in the development of the curriculum to come and induct, train them so that they can either get employed or offer employment to others through entrepreneurship.” Professor Kululanga added.

The ODL Coordinator at the Polytechnic Dr Rabson Mgawi encouraged the students to work hard and use this opportunity to learn engineering skills.

Some students have been given sponsorship by SHEAMA. 

SHEAMA is also running ODL projects in other universities like Mzuzu University, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, plus the Chancellor College.