On Master of Science in innovation
The Nation of Thursday 19th December 2013 carried Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) advertisement calling for applications for their 2014 post graduate programmes. I was attracted to one of the post graduate programmes, Master of Science in Innovation, especially considering the dynamic business world we are in today.
The opening on the call for applications on this programme reads: “Many specialists have predicted that innovation will be the main paradigm shift in the quest to keep the world competitive. The creators of innovations must tune up their training in order to meet the global needs and challenges. Therefore, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to pursue the two-year MSc in Innovation Programme”.
What a beautiful and beckoning introduction which left me questioning myself how innovative I am in my area of sales, marketing and communications.
Before I attempted to answer this question, I carefully reviewed the modules to be covered in the first year.
In my previous studies, I have covered seven of the modules highlighted above with the exception of advanced mathematical modeling and innovations and ethics which may be completely new to me. As someone with over 12 years work experience and having pursued diploma in management information systems and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, I would love to progress with my education and widen my domain of specialisation by acquiring a qualification that remains competitive and strategically positions me in the industry into being a dynamic human resource.
The newly introduced two year MSc in innovation programme seems to challenge Malawians, in various sectors of the economy. To be honest with ourselves, my observation is that as Malawians we have challenges in both areas of being innovative and ability to accept innovative solutions to our different problems in our various fields. Therefore, I would say the programme is long overdue.
However, where I really find the programme wanting are some of the requirement for one to be enrolled into this all important course. One of the admission requirements state that candidates must have Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Technology related field from any recognised university. I am cornered here and I think it is not only me. I hold a Degree in Business Administration but just like many other ambitious Malawians, strongly desire to pursue this programme.
I feel that an MSc in Innovation would enable us, as a nation, to know and fully understand what innovation is all about and how innovation can be applied in all sectors and professions. To me, this would be a panacea to unleash innovativeness from all professionals in this country.
As I am in sales, marketing and communication field, I need to embrace innovation and let innovation get entrenched in me so that I am able to see new opportunities, initiate and develop concepts, even products that will in turn see me through my profession serving not only my clients but also my country as a whole.
As we celebrate 50 years of independence, this innovativeness reminds me of our own long walk to freedom-or would it be our long walk from poverty- as a nation.
As a country, we need to reflect on the years gone by and isolate successes and lessons and see how best we can improve our current position in all spheres. It is important that as a nation, we carefully examine the challenges we have faced, particularly since the years after our multiparty democracy and try to look at things from a new angle and perspective. This is where an innovative mind comes in. This is where we need people from all professions to creatively come up with ways of how we can improve the way we do things, come up with new ideas, services, products and even methods.
My suggestion to the leadership of the country is that people qualifying from this programme should be put into teams that must be tasked among others to carry out research on what Malawians expect in 10, 20 or 30 years time and what new things can be brought up to move the country into that envisaged direction. Some expectations are already in black and white such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Others could be assigned to specifically review progress on national initiatives like the Green Belt Initiative which up to now, as a citizen, I do not know what exactly are its milestones since its inception, otherwise, it is a wonderful programme which need to be supported in full by both government and the private sector and, of course, our innovators.
With this submission I challenge MUST management to work with other academia and revisit the entry requirement into this programme.
I can foresee a lot of prospective student wanting to pursue this programme which will assist to revamp different sectors be it service or manufacturing.n
—The author lives in Lilongwe and likes to comment on social and political issues.
