In the first week of May 2025, LUANAR the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources was represented in Iceland as part of a growing academic collaboration focused on Restoration Ecology, sustainable land management, curriculum development, and capacity building. Two LUANAR staff members undertook the visit to GRÓ LRT (Land Restoration Training) in Iceland, made possible through funding from the Erasmus+ programme. The delegation comprised Dr. Principal Mdolo, Lecturer and specialist in Chemical Engineering, and Dr. Evance Chaima, Senior Lecturer at LUANAR.

The primary objective of the visit was to facilitate knowledge exchange between LUANAR and the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI), support the development of LUANAR’s Restoration Ecology curriculum, and strengthen institutional ties between the two universities. The team held engagements with AUI specialists, the Head of Teaching, former supervisors, and GRÓ LRT staff, with discussions centering on continued cooperation, research collaboration, teaching approaches, and the development of a graduate programme in Restoration Ecology at LUANAR.

A highlight of the visit was Dr. Mdolo’s keynote address at the event From Knowledge to Development Impact: Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management, hosted by the GRÓ Centre, GRÓ LRT, AUI, and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland. In his address, Dr. Mdolo spoke to how his experience in the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme has shaped his work as a lecturer at LUANAR and reinforced the link between practical field training, academic instruction, and professional impact in Malawi. He also delivered a lecture to current GRÓ LRT fellows, sharing professional insights and reflecting on how the training has contributed to his development.

The visit is expected to yield tangible benefits for LUANAR, including strengthened academic ties with AUI, valuable input toward the development of a Restoration Ecology curriculum, and enhanced professional capacity through shared experiences and international best practice. Alongside the formal programme, the LUANAR delegation also had the opportunity to experience Iceland’s remarkable landscape, visiting Gunnarsholt, Borgarfjörður, the geothermal area of Seltún, Kleifarvatn, and Grindavík.
LUANAR has maintained a productive relationship with GRÓ LRT since 2015, with five fellows having participated in the six-month training programme to date. The University looks forward to deepening this partnership and to the continued positive impact it brings to Malawi’s natural resources and agricultural sectors....