‘Knowledge sharing key to achieving MDGs’

Government says knowledge sharing between universities apart from playing a critical role in the development of the country, also helps in developing measures that can lead to freeing humanity from extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and diseases. Speaking at the opening of the Southern African-Nordic Centre Biannual Conference at Bingu Conference Centre in Lilongwe, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Lucius Kanyumba, said research and knowledge sharing are critical in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “A meeting of this nature is very important in the development of the nation and achieving the millennium development goals. This meeting is not just university of Malawi colleges sharing information but universities from the south and from the north, countries like Norway, Sweden, they are here with us so that we can share our knowledge” he said. He appreciated the role that the University of Malawi has played in the development of the country through research. “The University of Malawi and even other Universities like Mzuni and the new Luanar have indeed helped in trying to give us their results that have contributed in the development of policies that have contributed to the economy and development of Malawi,” he said. However, he condemned the practise of some academicians and researchers who do not share research findings with the public and policy makers. The Southern African-Nordic Centre Sanord is a grouping of institutions of higher learning in Southern Africa and among Nordic countries that have united with the aim of promoting multilateral research cooperation on matters of importance to development of both the North and the South. This is the first SANORD meeting to take place in Malawi and has attracted delegates from several countries from across the globe.