The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has secured a major academic coup for the country by partnering with South Africa’s University of Johannesburg (UJ) to host the 12th International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Investment in Blantyre next month.
The high-profile event, scheduled for 10 to 12 August 2026, marks the very first time this prestigious continental conference will be held on Malawian soil.
Local organising committee chairperson, Professor Theresa Mkandawire, confirmed that the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited conference will run under the theme:
“Infrastructure for a New Development Era: Climate Resilience, Innovation and Investment partnerships.”
The landmark gathering is expected to draw a diverse cohort of academics, policymakers, contractors, and built environment professionals from global powerhouses and regional neighbours, including South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Belgium, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
This strategic partnership with the University of Johannesburg offers profound institutional benefits for MUBAS as Malawi steers its higher education sector toward global competitiveness:
Jointly hosting an event of this magnitude places MUBAS researchers directly in the room with international experts, opening doors for co-authored papers and high-impact journal publications.
Interaction with international professionals exposes MUBAS faculty to emerging trends in climate-resilient engineering, which can be directly integrated into local civil engineering and built environment syllabi.
Building direct relationships with UJ and other visiting institutions paves the way for future student exchange programmes, joint master's or PhD supervision, and external moderation partnerships.
Successfully executing a massive continental conference elevates MUBAS’s regional ranking, proving its capacity to manage international academic events and attract lucrative regional research grants.
Beyond the walls of the lecture hall, the conference addresses critical issues affecting everyday Malawians. By focusing on climate resilience, the discussions aim to yield practical solutions for building roads, bridges, and energy grids capable of withstanding extreme weather events, which have frequently disrupted local infrastructure in recent years.
For local engineering and construction professionals, the CPD accreditation means they can upgrade their professional licenses right here in Blantyre, without the need for expensive travel abroad.
Professor Mkandawire noted that the event is a significant milestone that reinforces Malawi’s growing role in advancing research and innovation across Africa, while proving the country's hospitality sector is fully equipped to handle top-tier international delegates.
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