Celebrating
global influence
with Malawian graduates
Graduates shared old photos and reminisced about their college days.
Graduates loved the opportunity to learn from wine expert, Richard
Bouglet. He arranged some games to see if the wine enthusiasts really
did know their classics and as well as shedding some light on what
seasonal wines we should be drinking during the summer months.
We were delighted that QMU graduate, Jane Stewart of St Andrews
Farmhouse Cheese, was able to bring three of her cheeses to share
with enthusiastic foodies.
Alison Campbell, Consumer Studies graduate from Orkney, took part
in the ultrasound speech technology demonstration.
Q
MU ACADEMICS CARRYING out research in Malawi
in May took the opportunity to celebrate an important
milestone with Malawian graduates who have
influenced international health.
Experts from QMU’s Institute
of International Health and
Development (IIHD), based at
QMU, reunited with graduates at
a celebratory event which marked
the Institute’s 20th anniversary.
The alumni event, which took
place in Lilongwe, Malawi,
brought together an impressive
group of international health
graduates who have positively
influenced international health
and development in Malawi and
beyond.
Since the time when the Scottish
missionary David Livingstone first
visited Malawi in the mid-19th
century, Scotland has enjoyed
a special relationship with the
country. Links with Malawi have
been further strengthened over
the last few years following
various Scottish Government
initiatives which have encouraged
collaboration.
QMU has a long standing
association with Malawian
scholars in the field of global health
and social development. Attracting
students from all over the world,
IIHD has seen 37 Malawians
graduate from the Institute with
a Masters or PhD diploma. Many
of these graduates have gone on
to hold senior positions within the
Malawian government, charitable
health organisations and leading
universities – all have made a
significant contribution to the
development of international health
policies and social development
in Malawi. Some of their influence
will have also been felt far beyond
Malawi, in other areas of Africa
and further afield.
The Institute for International
Health and Development
specialises in delivering world
class teaching and research in the
areas of global health and social
development. The alumni event in
Malawi was supported by some
of the Institute’s most prominent
graduates including Jimmy Dixon
Gama, who graduated with an
MSc in Social Development and
Health in 2003. Jimmy went on to
complete a PhD with IIHD in 2009
and now lectures at the College
of Medicine in the University of
Malawi, specialising in health
systems management, health
policy and reproductive health.
Kibble Ngalauka graduated with
an MSc in Social Development
and Health from IIHD in 2005,
and went on to become a design
and development specialist for
the organisation, World Vision
Malawi. Rose Kumwenda-
Ng’oma, Executive Director of
the Christian Health Association
of Malawi (CHAM), is also a former
IIHD graduate, having achieved an
MSc in Social Development and
Health in 2002.
Professor Barbara McPake,
Director of the Institute for
International Health and
Development, explained: “This
was a wonderful opportunity to
reflect on the global reach which
has been achieved by the Institute
over the last 20 years and on the
successes of our graduates. It is
very satisfying to see the ripple
effect from partnerships of an
international mix of staff and
students, having such positive
outcomes in other countries.”
Professor McPake concluded:
“We are very proud to continue
developing this important and
meaningful relationship between
Scotland and Malawi. We
thoroughly enjoyed celebrating
with Jimmie, Kibble, Rose, and
many other illustrious alumni, and
developing new relationships with
important stakeholders in the
Malawian health sector.” ❒
QMYOU / Connect Reunion / IIHD Alumni News
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