In recent higher education developments, the High Court has ordered Blantyre International University (BIU) to pay K19.805 million in legal costs to the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), according to Malawi24. The assessment order, issued by Assistant Registrar Benjamin Chulu, follows the dismissal of a 2022 lawsuit in which BIU sought damages over its previous de-accreditation by the higher education regulator. The court reduced the original bill of K24.125 million submitted by NCHE after BIU raised objections regarding excessive fees for document preparation and legal research. BIU has been given 14 days to settle the payment.
In other university news, Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has received a K105 million donation from the Old Mutual Blantyre Foundation Trust to renovate its Diagnostic Laboratory, Malawi24 reports. The funding is intended to improve the institution's training programs and scientific research in parasitology and disease vector control.