MUST, MDF in strategic leaders' training
Posted By
James MphandePosted on
18th Jan, 2026
The Malawi Defence Force Command and Staff College in partnership with MUST recently welcomed Cohort 5 to the Senior Command and Staff Course.
The development marked another milestone in the continued development of strategic leadership within MDF and other regional defence forces.
The training programme integrates professional military course with the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies (PDSS), which is delivered at the MDF college in Salima in collaboration with MUST under the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage.
Since its inception, the partnership between MUST and MDF has now clocked five years, proof of being both strong and effective, with successful integration of academic theories with practical military training.
The course is designed to produce senior officers who are practically competent, innovative, and capable of critical and reflective thinking.
Participants are encouraged to analyse strategic issues beyond the military sphere, linking them to broader concerns in international relations, defence, peace, and security.
This approach equips officers with the skills and perspectives needed to operate confidently in complex and evolving strategic environments.
Following the official welcome of the new cohort, MUST faculty conducted orientation sessions to familiarise the new students with the university, its policies, and structure of the PDSS programme.
These sessions provided the trainees with clear understanding of academic expectations and support systems available throughout the course.
In preparation for delivery of the academic component, MUST held a Teaching Effectiveness Workshop on January 13 and 14 for lecturers assigned to the PDSS programme.
In line with its strategic pillar of Education Excellence, the workshop focused on strengthening teaching practice to ensure quality learning outcomes for Cohort 5.
Key areas covered included effective teaching methods, instructional materials, assessment and measurement, inclusive education, quality assurance, and professional conduct.
As Cohort 5 embarks on this demanding programme, the continued collaboration between MUST and MDF remains central to shaping well-rounded senior officer leaders equipped with strategic insight, academic grounding, and practical skills required to meet contemporary and future security challenges.
The development marked another milestone in the continued development of strategic leadership within MDF and other regional defence forces.
The training programme integrates professional military course with the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies (PDSS), which is delivered at the MDF college in Salima in collaboration with MUST under the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage.
Since its inception, the partnership between MUST and MDF has now clocked five years, proof of being both strong and effective, with successful integration of academic theories with practical military training.
The course is designed to produce senior officers who are practically competent, innovative, and capable of critical and reflective thinking.
Participants are encouraged to analyse strategic issues beyond the military sphere, linking them to broader concerns in international relations, defence, peace, and security.
This approach equips officers with the skills and perspectives needed to operate confidently in complex and evolving strategic environments.
Following the official welcome of the new cohort, MUST faculty conducted orientation sessions to familiarise the new students with the university, its policies, and structure of the PDSS programme.
These sessions provided the trainees with clear understanding of academic expectations and support systems available throughout the course.
In preparation for delivery of the academic component, MUST held a Teaching Effectiveness Workshop on January 13 and 14 for lecturers assigned to the PDSS programme.
In line with its strategic pillar of Education Excellence, the workshop focused on strengthening teaching practice to ensure quality learning outcomes for Cohort 5.
Key areas covered included effective teaching methods, instructional materials, assessment and measurement, inclusive education, quality assurance, and professional conduct.
As Cohort 5 embarks on this demanding programme, the continued collaboration between MUST and MDF remains central to shaping well-rounded senior officer leaders equipped with strategic insight, academic grounding, and practical skills required to meet contemporary and future security challenges.
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