Malawi: Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has started a bridging programme to help first year students. The initiative is set to become a regular feature of the institution in 2024.
According to the teachers and faculty, students who were top performers in schools are struggling to replicate this performance in their college. The students struggling to cope with the new coursework and environment can enrol and take advantage of the bridging programme.
Chemistry Lecturer at MUST, Esmie Mposa, talked about the initiative in Lilongwe. She delivered her remarks during one of the sessions at Lilongwe Teachers Training College. According to her, the project aims to familiarise the new students with both academic and social life.
The project will soon become part of their daily life when they report for classes in January 2024. According to Mposa, they want to prepare the students in advance for their academic and social life at the university.
The lecturer talked about the importance of the Bridging Programme for the success of the children’s academic careers. The Malawi University is taking up the project to make the students feel welcome and ready to start their higher education.
“Many first-year students report for classes completely unaware of what is expected of them and this has sometimes negatively affected their performance,” said Mposa.
She further said the situation is even worse for female students. This is especially true for students doing science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes.
One of the participants, Favour Matope, said the programme will help first-year students to know exactly what they will be doing while pursuing their studies at the university. Matope then urged other universities in the country to emulate the gesture.
The Bridging Programme falls under a project known as Skills for a Vibrant Economy (SAVE). The project is being funded by the World Bank and will run for three weeks, targeting first-year students. It is currently underway in the four major cities Malawi, that is: Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu.
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