Authorities at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) have asked Parliament to change the name, saying, it is confusing and difficult to market to students and donors.
Luanar vice-chancellor Professor George Kanyama-Phiri said this on Thursday when he led members of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Human Resources following a tour to the newly university campus currently under construction.
“People don’t know the name Luanar because they are used to Bunda. In fact, Bunda has been there for decades. Bunda, as a constituent college of the University of Malawi, started in 1965/6. It is not young,” he said.
He, therefore, asked members of the committee to help the college authorities on the matter. He said even when they go outside Malawi, people fail to come to terms with the new name.
Phiri said the proposed change of name does not mean the college wants to rejoin University of Malawi, but rather have a name that people can recognise easily.
“We plan to open other campuses in town and in Mzuzu to cater for the growing numbers,” added Kanyama.
Chairperson for the parliamentary committee Mcsteyn Mkomba expressed satisfaction with the expansion drive. “We will push so that funding to the university does not stop,” he said. The University asked for K3.7 billion (about $9.2m), but Parliament approved K800 million (about $2m).
