MAREN and TERNET Strengthen Research and Education Through Peer Learning

“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), during which the two National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) exchanged experiences, shared successful approaches and explored practical solutions to shared challenges through peer learning and collaboration. The engagement also provided MAREN with an opportunity to showcase how partnerships with universities and strategic institutions are strengthening Malawi’s research and education ecosystem.

One of the highlights of the engagement was a tour to the University of Malawi (UNIMA), where the delegation gained first-hand insight into how MAREN’s partnership with the University has contributed to improved internet bandwidth and the deployment of eduroam, strengthening connectivity in support of teaching, learning and research.

The program also included engagements with the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), the National Data Centre at ESCOM and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), giving the delegation a broader perspective on the partnerships that support Malawi’s research and education digital ecosystem.

MAREN and TERNET delegation during engagements with the University of Malawi and
the National Data Centre at ESCOM  Sajidu

Reflecting on the engagement, MAREN Chief Executive Officer Solomon Dindi said bringing together two National Research and Education Networks created an opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and identify practical approaches that can strengthen research and education services in both Malawi and Tanzania.

TERNET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Frank Philip Seth described regional collaboration as one of the greatest strengths of the NREN community. He said collaboration enables institutions to learn from one another, reduce costs and expand access to digital services, while also highlighting TERNET’s One Metre Access Strategy, currently being piloted at St John’s University of Tanzania, to improve Wi-Fi access across university campuses.

“NRENs are one community. Regional collaboration is very important because it enables us to benchmark from one another, learn from our colleagues and apply what works”, said Seth.

University of Malawi Vice Chancellor Professor Samson Sajidu said National Research and Education Networks play an important role in helping universities fulfil their mandate, noting that MAREN’s partnership with UNIMA has strengthened connectivity and enhanced collaboration through improved internet bandwidth and eduroam.

TERNET Board Member and Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania, Professor Alex Boniface Makulilo, also underscored the value of collaboration, observing that partnerships among NRENs and universities enable institutions to address shared challenges and strengthen the delivery of online learning across geographically dispersed campuses.

The engagement demonstrated that the greatest strength of the NREN community lies not only in the networks it builds, but also in the willingness of its members to learn from one another. By sharing experiences, showcasing successful partnerships and exploring new ideas together, MAREN and TERNET reaffirmed that advancing research and education is a shared responsibility—one best achieved through collaboration across borders.