Stakeholders in the education sector have stressed on the need for higher education institutions to conduct meaningful research if aspirations in the Malawi 2063 are to be realised.

The remarks have been made in Lilongwe during an interface involving top management of the country’s higher education institutions.

Speaking during the interface, Council Chairman of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) Professor Zachary Kasomekera said higher education institutions need to come out and provide solutions to challenges rocking the nation.

He noted: “Without proper research, decisions are not made based on data and as such decisions sometimes don’t address the real problems on the ground.

As universities, I think the most important aspect that we have to embark on is to work as a team, universities should work as a team in order to solve and give guidance to the achievement of 2063 by providing solutions to current problems.”

On his part, Director of Knowledge and Learning at National Planning Commission Dr. Joseph Nagoli said for Malawi 2063 to realised, there is need for collaborative efforts from institutions of higher learning.

“As institutions of higher learning they should be innovative in coming up with Innovations to come up with proposals that can actually look into what sort of issues that need to be looked in terms of research,” Dr. Nagoli said.

Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje  expressed discontent over low enrollment across the country’s higher education institutions saying that they only enroll one percent.

She said: “Whatever challenges a country is facing, universities should stand in the gap and do research and provide answers to do with improving services, that’s where innovations lie.”

However, the universities have reiterated on the need for more funding if they are to consistently carry out such innovations.