National Council for Higher Education NCHE

Overview

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) is the statutory regulatory authority overseeing higher education in Malawi. Established by Act No. 15 of 2011, it functions as an independent government agency responsible for registering, accrediting, and advising on higher education institutions and programmes, while promoting quality, accessible, relevant, and inclusive tertiary education in the country. Based in Lilongwe, NCHE operates as Malawi’s principal higher education quality assurance and regulatory body—according to uniRank.

Historical and Legal Framework

NCHE was formally created through the National Council for Higher Education Act (Chapter 30:12) of 2011, which came into force in April 2012. Prior to its establishment, higher education regulation in Malawi was loosely handled through ad hoc mechanisms. The Act provided NCHE with legal status as a corporate body with powers to register, accredit, monitor, and, if necessary, de-register institutions that failed to meet quality standards. The Council is enabled to develop standards, oversee institutional performance, and advise the Minister of Education on policy matters.

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Vision: To be a higher education regulator which supports systematic growth and excellence of higher education institutions in Malawi.

Mission: To promote quality, accessible, relevant, and inclusive higher education and training in Malawi through implementation of best practices in higher education regulation.

Objectives include:

• Registering and de-registering institutions and their programmes to ensure compliance with minimum standards.
• Accrediting higher education institutions and programmes, ensuring academic excellence.
• Harmonizing student selection into public universities via Public Universities Selection (PUS).
• Developing Malawi’s national qualifications framework aligned with regional and international standards.
• Recognizing foreign qualifications through systematic assessment.
• Advising government on higher education policy and encouraging international cooperation.

Governance, Structure and Independence

NCHE is established as a corporate body capable of legal action and asset management. Its Council is composed of six appointed members with relevant expertise (non-public service), plus ex officio members from key government and institutional stakeholders—including representatives of the education, treasury, and university sectors. Led by a Chairperson and supported by a Chief Executive Officer, NCHE carries out its functions independently, although it operates under the broader framework of Malawi’s Ministry of Education.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation in Higher Education

NCHE distinguishes between registration and accreditation:

• Registration grants permission for an institution or programme to operate.
• Accreditation confirms that institutions and programmes meet established standards of quality in teaching, infrastructure, staffing, and academic outcomes.

The accreditation process involves self-study, peer review by independent experts, site visits, and Council decision. As of July 2023, 31 institutions (8 public and 23 private) have been accredited since the process began in 2016. Accreditation is not permanent and requires periodic re-evaluation, with non-compliance potentially resulting in deregistration. NCHE also launched significant efforts like quality spot-checks and regulation of honorary degrees to maintain standards.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

NCHE has the mandate to promote international cooperation and regional alignment. It is also responsible for spearheading the development of a national qualifications framework aligned with international standards. Although specific partnerships aren't publicly listed, NCHE represents Malawi in regional higher education dialogues and supports the recognition of foreign qualifications.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

NCHE continues to shape Malawi’s higher education landscape by ensuring institutional quality, coordinating equitable student selection into public universities, and strengthening national qualifications governance. Its efforts raise public trust, enhance graduate employability, and align local education standards with regional and global benchmarks. Future initiatives include expanding accreditation reach, refining quality assurance, and increasing transparency through regulatory reforms and stakeholder engagement.

Summary

The National Council for Higher Education of Malawi, established by the 2011 Act, serves as the country’s primary regulator and quality assurance body for higher education. Through registration, accreditation, programme quality assessment, selection coordination, and policy advice, NCHE promotes accessible, relevant, and high-quality tertiary education. Its independent governance and structured accreditation framework underpin its role in steering Malawi’s higher education system toward excellence.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When was NCHE established?
  NCHE was established through the National Council for Higher Education Act of 2011, which took effect in April 2012.
• What is the difference between registration and accreditation?
  Registration grants permission to operate, while accreditation confirms that institutions and programmes meet quality standards.
• How many institutions are accredited?
  As of July 2023, NCHE has accredited 31 institutions—8 public and 23 private.
• Does NCHE handle student admissions?
  NCHE coordinates but does not conduct admissions. It oversees the harmonised Public University Selection (PUS) process, while selection decisions are made by universities.
• What happens if an institution fails accreditation?
  NCHE requires institutions to submit improvement plans. Failure to address shortcomings may result in deregistration.

Organization Name

National Council for Higher Education

Acronym

NCHE

Year of Establishment

1/01/2011

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

HB House, Off Paul Kagame Road, Next to Chipiku Plus
Lilongwe
Central Region Malawi

Phone

+265 (1) 755 884

Fax

+265 (1) 755 886

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

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National Council for Higher Education's Facebook page

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National Council for Higher Education's X page

LinkedIn

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YouTube

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Instagram

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Wikipedia Article

Not available

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