The Accreditation Issues of Private Universities in Malawi

Abstract

This article analyses the perceptions of various stakeholders regarding their views on how accreditation issues were affecting private universities’ operations in Malawi. The article was based on a study that was conducted at six private universities in Malawi using a mixed methods research approach, utilising a descriptive survey research design. It involved a total of 152 respondents comprising of registrars, heads of departments, teachers and students from the targeted private universities, as well as public and private sectors executives in the country. This study revealed that the majority of the respondents were of the view that Malawi National Council for Higher Education was doing a commendable job in providing the needed monitoring and evaluation of higher education institutions and their respective study programmes in Malawi. It was also revealed that the action of being discredited or deregistered had a very big impact on the reputation of the concerned universities, students and the already produced graduates, hence the visits by NCHE officials created tension at the institutions. Nevertheless, the study concluded that the accreditation of institutions of higher learning and their study programmes was the only way to go in enhancing and controlling the quality of higher education in Malawi since there is no alternative to strict compliance to high standards. The need for revision of the higher education policies and laws in the country to strongly discourage the operation of the institution prior to their registration and accreditation by NCHE is strongly recommended.