The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) says public universities in the country should emulate the example of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) which has raised K21 billion over the past four years through its own activities.
CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe said there is need for colleges to be innovative and to raise funds on their own, not only depending on government for funding.
“This a very good development that Luanar has managed to raise K21 billion kwacha on its own and it’s recommendable that some institutions should learn from Luanar,” said Kondowe.
He added that what Luanar has done is first of its kind and such spirit is what is needed in this time when government is going through financial challenges.
According to Kondowe, government cannot manage to finance all the universities in the country so other colleges should start thinking outside the box in order to raise own funds.
According to Luanar Vice Chancellor George Kanyama Phiri, the university has made the money by publishing papers in international journals and through consultancies.
He said the college is investing the money in construction of student hostels and in improving its ICT infrastructure.
Luanar was established four years ago after the Bunda college of Agriculture was delinked from University of Malawi and merged with Natural Resources College.
