Highlights College to launch E Learning programmes ECAMA courts Chanco intellectuals in debate

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1 Volume 2 Issue 3 1st May, th June, 2016 E : A C C T he next time you find yourself in Principal s office, try to get over awe amazement at being in presence of most powerful person on campus, let your eyes roam around for a minute or two. If you do it properly, you will notice a couple of items, beyond plush carpeting caressing your feet. Among se is an array of trophies on display in various corners of office. There is something significant about se trophies. They symbolize spirit of competition that imbues people that populate corridors of Chancellor College. This is a spirit to be found amongst staff as well as students, a need to be best. We believe that, where it is weakened, this attitude needs to be fostered. Special mention must be made of staff athletes on campus, who amassed plenty of victories at recent UMSSA games, making whole Chancellor College proud. In any competitive arena, we have people who serve to inspire, personalities that set benchmarks that ors attempt to achieve or surpass. We are proud to say that our own Vice Principal member of Chanco Bulletin editorial team, Professor Samson Sajidu, has become latest academic to set this stard of excellence, through his elevation to rank of professor. To say it is an inspiration is an understatement. So what does second half of academic year hold for college? There are new academic programmes being developed by faculties on campus, new research initiatives sprouting from various departments, construction projects that have miraculously gone beyond stage of mere talk debate. As a stakeholder, do yourself a favor take a walk to any of construction sites just to appreciate way campus is growing, maybe learn a thing or two. The trophy attained by volleyball team: re are more to come. Editorial Team: Dr. Ken Lipenga Jr (Chief Editor), Prof Samson Sajidu (Vice Principal), Ms. Chilungamo M manga, Ms. Wezi Mhango, Mr. Foster Gondwe Highlights College to launch E Learning programmes ECAMA courts Chanco intellectuals in debate Chinese Ambassador visits Divers medals for Chanco athletes at UMSSA games US Ambassador in campus tour Chanco students present at ISIbalo conference

2 Chinese Ambassador visits In his familiarization tour of country, new Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, His Excellency Wang Shi Ting visited University of Malawi Central Office on Saturday 4 June At, Ambassador toured newly rehabilitated library, including office housing Confucius Centre, some of newly tiled classrooms. He expressed happiness with Malawi Government s efforts higher in promoting education, stressing that education is bedrock development of of any nation. Having passed through corridors of different universities in his studies, he mentioned that he makes it a point to visit appreciate university systems in any country he serves on ambassadorial missions. In his remarks, Principal of College, Prof Richard Tambulasi thanked Ambassador for having chosen as one of institutions to be visited. He mentioned that although College is blessed with plenty of l, only a quarter of this l is developed. College administration engages Chinese Ambassador in discussions Page 2 Most of l is undeveloped due to lack of resources. The College is refore not operating at its maximum in contributing to socioeconomic development of nation. The remaining l is being envisioned for expansion of teaching learning spaces, students accommodation, sports facilities, among many or uses. The Principal furr lamented that small portions of space that have been developed lack sufficient furniture (students chairs desks), laboratory equipment modern teaching facilities. Before his departure, Ambassador assured College management that his office is open for discussions on proposals regarding development of College. ECAMA courts Chanco in post-budget deliberations On 7 th June, 2016 a few members of Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) visited Dr. Bob Chulu making his contribution during discussions. in order to have a discussion on 2016/2017 Malawi Government budget. During discussions, Mr Kachaje, President of ECAMA, pointed out that ir organization had suggested a number of changes to government on formulation of budget, including widening tax base. A number of ir suggestions have been taken on board by government. The event was interactive discussion with members of staff students at Chancellor College, individuals where presented ir thoughts on national budget. Indeed, a number of members of community made some contributions. Some touched on matter of taxation, where it was felt that average working Malawian was already being heavily taxed. Or individuals queried government procurement policy, asked ECAMA to pressure government to conduct a review of procurement act, to see wher it was indeed beneficial in economic sense.

3 US Ambassador tours Chancellor College On 10 June 2016 USA Ambassador to Malawi, Her Excellency Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer visited Chancellor College on a familiarization tour. She was welcomed by College s Vice Principal, Registrar, Finance Officer Librarian. In his welcoming remarks, Vice Principal, Prof. Samson Sajidu, explained to Ambassador that College still enjoys status of being largest high education institution in country. offers a diverse range of programmes in law, humanities, education, natural sciences social sciences. The College makes deliberate efforts to enroll students on 50:50 (female: male) basis, also enrolls students with special needs. He furr explained that College is not operating at its maximum potential for socio economic development of nation due to lack of resources. Reference was made to College s l, of which only a quarter is developed. If all l was developed with vision of exping teaching learning facilities, students accommodation, sports facilities, recreation spaces many more as outlined in it draft master plan, College would be enrolling not less than 20,000 face to face students. currently has a Memorum of Understing with Public Affairs Section of US Embassy on hosting of American The Vice Principal indicates how far college l stretches Corner which is benefiting students, staff external users not only as a source of information about USA but also a source of literature on or issues such as politics, law, business economics. At end of tour, Ambassador explained that she was generally impressed with College regarding great contributions it makes to development of nation. She explained that, with assistance of her office, re are several opportunities that College may be exploring in USA on capacity building such as collaboration with American Universities on both students staff exchange, Fulbright Programme many more. She mentioned that her office will be glad to assist in enhancing such initiatives with American institutions. She also mentioned that although concept of American Corners is not currently sufficiently supported as it used to be, she was glad to learn that it is proving extremely useful to users within outside College, pledged to make an effort in assisting in its development. E-Learning Centre to pilot programmes online The E Learning Centre at is set to start offering online programmes. The centre will be piloting two programmes: Bachelor of Arts (Human Resource) offered by Department of Political Administrative Studies Department, under Faculty of Social Science; University Certificate of Education (UCE) from Faculty of Education. According to E Learning Centre Director, Dr Antonie Chigeda, re is good progress on piloting of programmes, with most of required groundwork already done. The centre is working on infrastructure Inside one of e Learning classrooms Page 3 development, as well as engaging concerned departments to develop programmes presentation outlines for E learning delivery. The Centre will be offering programmes from, students will be accessing lessons from satellites that centre identified in Mzuzu, Lilongwe Blantyre. The two key modes of delivery are MOODLE platform which loads content online for students independent use, Video Streaming where students attend scheduled classes at designated places with Tele facilities for lesson delivery.

4 S Geography Earth Sciences department receives upgrades The Department of Geography Earth Sciences has in past month undergone some notable developments in form of procurement of furniture upgrading of offices. This has all been thanks to. A lecture in progress in one of newly furnished rooms Mining Governance Growth Support project. Specifically, project has seen refurbishment of all facilities in department. Through project, department has also acquired new furniture for all of its offices, laboratories map library. Additionally, project has also paid for new doors to be installed in offices, laboratories toilets close to department. Lastly, all offices in department have been upgraded with air conditioning systems. The Head of Geography Earth Sciences Department, Dr Evance Page 4 Mwathunga, expresses his delight at developments. This work will ensure that rooms in department are restored to ir original function, instead of being mere lecture rooms, he said. At college level, this will assist in creating a conducive environment for teaching learning. We can look forward to training even better skilled geoscientists. There are some or activities that have been held as part of project. Delegations were sent on study tours to universities in Australia South Africa to appreciate how geosciences developed. have Also in pipeline are plans to conduct a curriculum review, with assistance of an external consultant. The department also plans to continue holding career talks in secondary schools around country. Three teams will also travel around country visiting mining companies operations. Reform Team appreciates campus developments College. During visit, team was taken on a tour to appreciate some of recent work, including refurbishing of library floors tiling of classrooms. The college principal, Prof. Richard Tambulasi, also led delegation to construction sites of science laboratories ICT Centre, which are due for completion in The Malawi Government established Public Service Reform Commission in The Commission provides strategic leadership in implementation of Public Service Reforms, which would result in provision of dynamic high quality services to public at all times. Some members of Reform Team paid campus a visit on 30th May, 2016, to appreciate development work happening at Chancellor The Principal leads Reform Team through one of construction sites

5 Chanco students present at ISIbalo Conference As academics, one of things we often strive to do is attend present at conferences. These are forums where we establish research networks get Dr. Chintsanya poses with students feedback to our own work. However, because of constrains of time, work money, it is not always possible to attend se conferences. As a result, it is not uncommon to encounter lecturers with conference experience at all. In this light, it is heartening when undergraduate students are given opportunity to experience this side of academic life from an early stage. This is precisely what happened when seven students in Population Studies Department, under mentorship of Dr Jesman Chintsanya, flew to South Africa to attend 5th ISIbalo Conference of African Young Page 5 Statisticians in June The conference attracted representatives from eight different countries. The students from included Mpinga, Kondwani Clement Mtambo, Ella Lisuntha, Stephen Kumwenda, Vitumbiko Namondwe (majoring in Demography), Joel Ng oma Abigail Simkoko (Bio statistics). The trip was funded by Stats SA. The conference is part of a programme designed to train young upcoming students in Demography Statistics, so that y can contribute to development of ir countries. Dr Chintsanya, who accompanied students on trip, expressed his pride for students achievement. Our students need to harness se opportunities in order to upgrade ir skill through interaction with or people in field, he observed. participates in EBAFOSA launch On 6th June 2016, State President, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is also Chancellor of University of Malawi, launched Ecosystems Based Adaptation for Food Security Assembly (EBAFOSA) at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe. EBAFOSA is first all inclusive pan African institution framework that provides a platform for all stakeholders in a country to collaborate in a participatory manner in developing implementing policy solutions to upscale EBAdriven agriculture its value chains to combat food insecurity, climate change, ecosystem degradation poverty in Africa. Realizing its role as part of EBAFOSA Secretariat, Chancellor College displayed some of EBA projects it is implementing with involvement of local communities. These included Malawi Farmer to Farmer Agroecology (MAFFA) project, Tipindule ndi Nsomba, Nsomba Nchuma, Farmer Led Agroecological Farming (Seed Sovereignty Food Sovereignty) project, Environmental Justice Sustainability Clinic, a project by students led by Mr. Chikosa Ba. The Principal of, Prof. Richard Tambulasi attended event to show full support commitment of University of Malawi to cause. The University of Malawi, Chancellor College in particular, is delighted to play a leading role to be part of this movement. Dr Mangani Katundu briefs State President on s displays

6 Chanco holds SUCC leadership seminar All 25 members of Students Union of (SUCC) Executive were from 1st to 3rd June, 2016 hosted in a Leadership Seminar organized by College Administration. The seminar was held in Little Theatre. This is a seminar that is held every time a new SUCC executive is elected into office. A number of members of staff serving in different roles were invited to make presentations at seminar. The talks touched on issues such as gender equality, communication management, conflict resolution, budgeting finance, legal status of SUCC. During closing function, Speaker of SUCC, Vitumbiko Thindwa, expressed her appreciation for seminar. There is a lot that I have learned from seminar. This should make us best SUCC executive at Chancellor College. The SUCC Executive stayed on campus after end of first Dr. Phillip Kapulula making his presentation during workshop semester, making plans for fundraising projects to benefit less privileged students on campus. Page 6 These projects are specifically meant to assist such students with tuition fees. Chanco athletes amass medals at UMSSA Games When one thinks of activities associated with, rarely does thought of sports come to mind. However, beneath all academic administrative personnel is hidden a rich pool of athletes, who regularly meet to engage in sporting activities of various kinds. From amongst diversity of college staff lecturers, librarians, administrators, networking engineers, accountants, office assistants comes a collection of individuals that have for a number of years represented college in various sporting competitions at various levels. These are men women that form Chancellor College Staff Sports Association (CCSSA). The most recent success of Association comes in form of victories attained at intercollege UMSSA 2016 Games, Malawi held at University of Science Technology (MUST) on 14th may, The games brought toger colleges from University of Malawi, including Kamuzu College of Nursing,, Polytechnic. Lilongwe University of Agriculture Natural (LUANAR), Resources Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA) Malawi University of Science Technology (MUST) also took part. At function, end of Chancellor College teams individuals went away with a whopping 15 medals. These included six gold medals, four silver medals five bronze medals, attained in different categories. sporting The volleyball team was also granted a trophy for emerging victorious. On 17th June, college held a function in Senior Common Room to congratulate The Principal congratulates Volleyball team, as y proudly display ir trophy athletes. The event was graced by College Principal, Prof. Richard Tambulasi, who proudly observed that sports association had shown truth in age old saying, all work no play makes Jack a dull boy. However, Principal specifically bemoaned fact that few academics take part in sporting activities. In closing, he pointed out that college master plan includes a proposal to exp sporting facilities.

7 Zomba Action Project donates laptop to Special Needs student On morning of 30th May, 2016, college held a small function at Special Needs Section, located on ground floor of college library, where a laptop computer was hed over to Mr Alinane Misomali, a second year visually impaired education student. The laptop was donated by Zomba Action Project (ZAP), which was represented by Mr Zondiwe Mbano, a lecturer in Language Communications Department, Mr Tom Mate. Also present at function were College Vice Principal, Professor Samson Sajidu, College Registrar, Mrs Mary Wasiri, Dean of Students, Dr. Jonas Mwatseteza. The Zomba Action Project is a group of volunteers that comprises people from Zomba, as well as some individuals from Norrn Irel. They run a number of charitable activities in Malawi, including provision of bursaries for various students in secondary schools, as well as disbursement of scholarships for students at, Zomba Theological College, Mzuzu University, Nasawa Technical College, among ors. The group raises funds every year, which are channeled towards various areas of need in education sector in Malawi. They also send materials, including computers clos. During function, Vice Principal Mr Misomali receives laptop during hover ceremony observed that Zomba Action Project had proved mselves as true partners of college. Thank you very much for all help you render to our students. We really appreciate gesture, as se are friends indeed, he said. We don t take gesture for granted. Upon receiving laptop, Mr Misomali pledged to work hard, expressed his wish that God would bless donors abundantly. Seen in wider context of learning opportunities for special needs students, this donation has come at Page 7 right moment. For some time, Special Needs section has been facing a number of problems. The Special Needs Section houses a few talking computers used by students. These computers, which were donated by Sight Savers International, assist students in accessing houts material from internet. The section also has a Braille embosser a scanner. Most of equipment was provided through donations from Strathclyde University in Scotl. Condolences It has been a particularly difficult two months at Chancellor College through loses felt by members of community. We all felt blow upon hearing of passing of former Principal, Professor Chris Kamlongera. Toger we mourned our colleague, dutifully escorted him to his final resting place. May his soul rest in peace. In May, College suffered loss of a student, Esr Kachikuni. Words alone cannot express grief we all feel. May good Lord comfort her family. We join Chancellor College community in offering condolences to Dr. G. Kamchedzera on passing of his bror. We also pray to God to offer comfort to Dr. Peter Mvula, on loss of his wife. May her soul rest in peace. Only Far in heaven can offer comfort to Mrs N. Mpekansambo, on passing of her mor last month. We offer out most heartfelt condolences to family. Our colleague, Dr. Boniface Dulani, lost his sister in same period. To him, we offer prayers of comfort, in belief that she is now with Lord. Our thoughts prayers are also with Mrs Malata, whose grmor recently passed on. May Lord above wipe tears from her eyes. Condolences are also due to Mr Nick Tembo, on passing of his aunt. We pray that God's comforting h touches him family during this hard time. No death is easy, but when mor who brought you into this world passes on, a part of you departs with her. In this regard, we offer condolences to Mr E. Nya. May Good Lord also comfort Mrs Elizabeth Meke, whose husb passed on in June. May his soul rest in peace. Only God can bring ease to family of Mr Kenneth C. Mdala, who lost his aunt in June. We also wish to convey a message of condolence to Mr Hastings Kaipa, on passing of his far. May Good Lord bring your family some measure of comfort in this difficult time.