Mzuzu University (MZUNI) commemorates its Silver Jubilee this year and it has accomplished a lot in the past. This article will focus on areas that MZUNI failed in the past and provide the proposal

Title: Addressing Mzuzu University's Areas for Improvement: A 10-Year Development Framework 1) Introduction: Mzuzu University's Silver Jubilee marks a noteworthy journey graced with achievements and hampered by contingencies. This proposal aims to highlight three crucial areas of improvement - technology integration, research infrastructure, and student support services, and suggests an achievable 10-year roadmap to success. 2) Areas of Concern and Suggested Solutions: a. Technology Integration: - Concern: Despite the global trend of integrating educational technology, MZUNI seems lagging in its leveraging of modern tools and platforms for teaching and learning. - Solution: A comprehensive upgrading of university's education technology systems is suggested. This includes investing in an improved Learning Management System (LMS), digital libraries, online collaboration tools, and personalized learning software. To ensure implementation within 10 years, the whole plan can be divided into phased milestones. Initial years should focus on acquiring necessary hardware and software and the later years should be for training staff and full integration. b. Research Infrastructure: - Concern: Challenges related to research infrastructure, such as lack of state-of-the-art laboratories, research equipments, and funding, seem to have stunted MZUNI's research output. - Solution: An organized investment in research facilities over the next decade can ameliorate this concern. Year-on-year planning may include extending partnerships with industries and international universities, securing research funds, upgrading laboratories, and improving research methodologies. c. Student Support Services: - Concern: Student feedback reflects a need for enhanced support services such as career counselling, mental health supports, academic tutoring services, etc. - Solution: A focused, longitudinal approach to improving student services is proposed. This involves recruiting competent counselors, setting up well-equipped resource centers, integrating a student-teacher mentorship system, and continually reviewing and improving these services for the next 10 years. 3) Conclusion: In celebration of MZUNI's Silver Jubilee, let this proposal be a guide in navigating the next 10 years, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. By addressing these areas for improvement, we can strive to cultivate a dynamic learning environment that breeds creativity, research, and growth. We would welcome review and feedback on the proposed plans with a view to integrating stakeholder insights to ensure their success.