Malawi Research and Education Network - MAREN

Malawi Research and Education Network - MAREN The Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) provides affordable and high speed internet connectivity to research and education institutions in Malawi

Research has greater impact when it can be found, accessed and used.MAREN is strengthening its capacity to support unive...
19/08/2026

Research has greater impact when it can be found, accessed and used.

MAREN is strengthening its capacity to support universities and research institutions in preserving and sharing their scholarly work through digital repositories.

MAREN Systems Engineers Joyce Mtawali and Jones Kumwenda recently participated in a technical training in Kigali, Rwanda, from 3–7 August 2026 under the IOI training programme organised by UbuntuNet Alliance.

The training strengthened their practical skills in deploying and managing digital repository systems, including DSpace. The knowledge gained will enable MAREN to provide stronger technical support to member institutions and help expand access to research publications, theses, dissertations, reports and other scholarly outputs.

For Malawi's research and education community, this means greater opportunities for researchers, students, policymakers and the wider public to discover and use knowledge generated by our institutions.

The training also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with National Research and Education Networks across the region, bringing valuable knowledge back to Malawi.

Building stronger digital research infrastructure means helping Malawi's knowledge travel further.

Read the full story: https://maren.ac.mw/maren-strengthens-capacity-to-make-malawis-research-more-accessible/

18/08/2026

With support from the Internet Society Foundation (ISOC), MAREN brought together ICT personnel from Mzuzu University, Malawi College of Accountancy, Nalikule College, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the University of Livingstonia, and Malawi Assemblies of God University for a hands-on training under the ISOC Network Resilience Pilot Project.

From learning how to deploy solar-powered Wi-Fi equipment to integrating the solution with eduroam, participants gained practical skills to strengthen connectivity on their campuses and help keep students, lecturers, and researchers connected during power outages and fibre disruptions.

Because resilient networks are built with technology but sustained by people.

ARE YOU A...Researcher or Academic, ICT Professional, NREN Leader, Government Official, Development Partner, or Technolo...
17/08/2026

ARE YOU A...

Researcher or Academic, ICT Professional, NREN Leader, Government Official, Development Partner, or Technology Industry Professional?

UbuntuNet-Connect 2026 is for you!

Join 250+ delegates from across Eastern and Southern Africa at the premier international conference bringing together leaders and professionals shaping digital technologies for research and education.

Explore key themes including Research & Education Network Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Innovation, Partnerships & Service Evolution, Open Science, and Diversity, Equity & Gender Inclusion

📅 29–30 October 2026
📍 Pearl Convention Centre, Lilongwe, Malawi

🔗 Register now: www.ubuntunet.net/uc2026/

UbuntuNet-Connect 2026 | Shaping Digital Horizons

Reliable internet doesn't begin with cables or equipment. It begins with people who know how to keep campuses connected ...
31/07/2026

Reliable internet doesn't begin with cables or equipment. It begins with people who know how to keep campuses connected when power and fibre fail.

With support from the Internet Society Foundation (ISOC), MAREN has concluded a two-day hands-on training under the ISOC Network Resilience Project, equipping ICT personnel from Mzuzu University, Malawi College of Accountancy, Nalikule College, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, the University of Livingstonia, and Malawi Assemblies of God University with the practical skills to deploy and manage resilient campus connectivity solutions.

Participants didn’t just sit through presentations. Guided by MAREN's Network Engineers, Trot Makasu and Mwayi Chatsika, they disassembled and assembled solar-powered Wi-Fi equipment, learned how to mount and manage it, and gained practical experience using the tools that support its deployment.

Since the solar-powered Wi-Fi solution will provide resilient wireless connectivity on participating campuses, the training also covered how to integrate it with eduroam—the secure Wi-Fi roaming service used by the global research and education community. Guided by MAREN's Systems Engineer, Grace Gausi, participants learned how to configure the systems that verify user identities, add and manage user accounts, connect wireless access points to eduroam, and test the service to ensure students, lecturers, and researchers can securely access the network using their institutional credentials.

The training was about more than understanding the technology. It was about giving universities the confidence and capacity to manage it themselves.

As the ISOC Network Resilience Project continues to roll out, participating institutions are strengthening their ability to keep students, lecturers, and researchers connected, even during power outages or network disruptions. That means fewer interruptions to learning, more reliable access to research resources, and stronger collaboration across campuses.

Because resilient networks are built with technology but sustained by people.

🚫 Don't be like John.John thought he had a good password."John141990"After all, it had his name and date of birth, and i...
27/07/2026

🚫 Don't be like John.

John thought he had a good password.
"John141990"

After all, it had his name and date of birth, and it was easy to remember.

On Monday morning, John arrived at work, coffee in one hand and his laptop in the other.

He typed in his password.
"Incorrect password."

He tried again.
Still nothing.

Within minutes, the ICT team confirmed the unthinkable. Someone had guessed his password, logged into his account, and changed it overnight.

By lunchtime...

• Sensitive emails had been accessed.
• Examination papers were being shared online.
• Fake payment requests had been sent from his email.
• Students and colleagues were receiving phishing messages that appeared to come from John.

The investigation revealed one simple mistake.

His password was based on information anyone could guess: his name and date of birth.

One weak password. One compromised account. One very expensive lesson.

• Protect yourself and your institution by creating passwords that are:
• At least 14–16 characters long
• A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
• Unique for every account
• Never based on your name, birthday, or other personal information

A strong password takes minutes to create—but it can prevent months of disruption.

There's Still Time to Register for UbuntuNet-Connect 2026!Be part of UbuntuNet-Connect 2026—the premier international co...
23/07/2026

There's Still Time to Register for UbuntuNet-Connect 2026!

Be part of UbuntuNet-Connect 2026—the premier international conference for research, education, and networking technologies in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Hosted by the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) in partnership with UbuntuNet Alliance, the conference will take place 29–30 October 2026 at the Pearl Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi, under the theme "Shaping Digital Horizons."

Join researchers, network engineers, university ICT leaders, policymakers, librarians, development partners, and technology experts from across Africa and beyond as they explore the digital infrastructure, innovations, and partnerships shaping the future of research and education.

📅 Early Bird Registration: 1 June – 31 August 2026
📅 Regular Registration: 1 September – 30 September 2026

Early Bird Registration Fees:
Participants from African institutions (including Malawi): MWK 262,650
Participants from the rest of the world: USD 200

Register today to secure your place and benefit from the Early Bird rates.

🔗 Register now: https://ubuntunet.net/uc2026/

We look forward to welcoming you to Lilongwe, Malawi, this October.

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."The African proverb captured the spirit of a five...
21/07/2026

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

The African proverb captured the spirit of a five-day strategic engagement between the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) and the Tanzania Education and Research Network (TERNET), where the two National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) exchanged experiences, shared approaches and explored solutions to strengthen research and education networking.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for MAREN to showcase how collaboration with universities and strategic institutions contributes to a stronger research and education ecosystem in Malawi.

As part of the programme, the TERNET delegation toured key institutions within Malawi's research and education ecosystem, including the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), the National Data Centre at ESCOM and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), gaining insight into the partnerships that support MAREN’s work.

Through peer learning and regional collaboration, MAREN and TERNET reaffirmed the importance of NRENs working together to strengthen digital infrastructure, expand access to services and support the advancement of research and education across Africa.

When universities and National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) work together, the impact extends beyond connecti...
16/07/2026

When universities and National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) work together, the impact extends beyond connectivity, it strengthens teaching, research and innovation.

That shared vision was at the heart of yesterday's engagement as the Tanzania Education and Research Network (TERNET) delegation continued its strategic visit to Malawi with an engagement at the University of Malawi - UNIMA.

Bringing together leaders from MAREN, TERNET and the University of Malawi (UNIMA), the engagement focused on the value of close collaboration between National Research and Education Networks and higher education institutions in advancing digital transformation across the research and education sector.

Representing TERNET were Dr. Seth Frank Philip, Chief Executive Officer, together with Board Members Prof. Msanjila Yohana Petro, Vice Chancellor of St John's University of Tanzania, and Prof. Makulilo Alex Boniface, Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT).

UNIMA was represented by Vice Chancellor Prof. Samson Sajidu, Deputy University Registrar Mr. Alfred Iteta Banda, and Dr. Symon Ernest Chiziwa, Head of Open, Distance, and e-Learning, while MAREN was represented by Chief Executive Officer Solomon Dindi, Finance and Administration Manager Grace Dzoole, and Network and Infrastructure Manager Alexius Chipalamwazani.

The engagement reaffirmed the important role that collaboration between NRENs and universities plays in creating digitally enabled learning environments, strengthening research and education, and fostering innovation across the higher education sector.

The TERNET delegation will continue its programme in the coming days with engagements at the National Data Centre at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) before concluding the visit on Saturday.

MAREN Welcomes TERNET Delegation to Malawi for Strategic EngagementThe Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) has...
14/07/2026

MAREN Welcomes TERNET Delegation to Malawi for Strategic Engagement

The Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) has welcomed a delegation from the Tanzania Education and Research Network (TERNET) to Malawi for a five-day strategic engagement taking place from 14–18 July 2026 in Blantyre and Zomba.

The delegation, comprising Dr. Seth Frank Philip, Chief Executive Officer of TERNET, and Board Members Prof. Msanjila Yohana Petro and Prof. Makulilo Alex Boniface, will participate in a series of discussions and institutional engagements highlighting MAREN's contribution to advancing research and education networking in Malawi.

The programme includes engagements with the University of Malawi (UNIMA), the National Data Centre at ESCOM, and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), as well as strategic roundtable discussions on key issues affecting National Research and Education Networks (NRENs).

The engagement provides an opportunity for both organisations to strengthen regional collaboration, exchange experiences on institutional growth, and deepen partnerships that support digital transformation across the research and education sector.

The future of Africa's Internet is shaped long before we connect to Wi-Fi. It begins where policymakers, network operato...
09/07/2026

The future of Africa's Internet is shaped long before we connect to Wi-Fi. It begins where policymakers, network operators and technical experts come together to make decisions that influence how the continent's Internet remains secure, resilient and ready for the future.

From 22–26 June 2026, MAREN participated in the Africa Internet Summit 2026, hosted by AFRINIC-The Regional Internet Registry for Africa in partnership with leading Internet organisations in Nairobi, Kenya. Representing MAREN was Infrastructure Engineer REXA MPHUWA, who contributed to discussions on Internet policy, emerging technologies and network resilience, while also showcasing MAREN's expertise in routing security through a technical presentation that attracted interest from network professionals across the continent

For MAREN, participating in the summit was about more than attending a conference. It was about ensuring Malawi has a voice in the conversations shaping Africa's digital future, while bringing back knowledge, strategic partnerships and technical expertise that will strengthen connectivity for universities and research institutions across the country.

As the National Research and Education Network, MAREN remains committed to connecting Malawi's research and education community to global knowledge, innovation and collaboration—ensuring our institutions are not only connected to the Internet, but are also represented where its future is being shaped.

Read the full story: https://maren.ac.mw/maren-helps-shape-africas-internet-future-at-continental-summit/

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Malawi Research And Education Network
Zomba
278

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 16:30
Thursday 07:30 - 16:30
Friday 07:30 - 16:30

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