The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) last night won the MASO Awards organised Best Arts Promoting University accolade.

Nominees for the award included Mzuzu University, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Malawi, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and Catholic University of Malawi.

To win, it means MUST amassed more votes from the public who were voting on the organisers' webpage.
Receiving the award at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, MUST representative James Mphande thanked the organisers for the opportunity and voters for their recognition.

"People look at us through the science and technology lens but we are also very much into arts. The award tonight is a recognition of our efforts in the arts, cultural and heritage space. We have programmes in the arts fields, we organise cultural events, we have partnered with various arts bodies and institutions to promote arts. We are very much a big influence," he said.

Most of the arts activities at MUST are done under the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage (BISCH) and its Executive Dean, Dr Atikonda Mtenje Mkochi was all excited with the award.

She said the award will act as a motivation for them to do more to promote the development of arts in Malawi so that it becomes a critical contributor to national economic development.