As part of its commitment to expanding access to quality education through open and distance learning, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has supported the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) of Malawi in developing and validating national Guidelines on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). These guidelines offer a clear framework to help higher education institutions in Malawi to formally recognise the knowledge, skills, and competencies that individuals have gained outside traditional academic environments.

The initiative began in 2024 with a capacity-building workshop focused on RPL and micro-credentials for open and distance learning, followed by the drafting of the guidelines. Reflecting on the process, Dr Jako Olivier, Adviser: Higher Education at COL, observed, “The development of these guidelines represents a significant step towards inclusive education. Recognition of prior learning enables more equitable access to higher education by valuing what individuals already know and can do—regardless of where or how they learned it.”

In February 2025, a validation workshop was held in Lilongwe, hosted by NCHE with support from COL. Opening the event, NCHE CEO Dr Ambumulire Phiri underscored the importance of the guidelines in creating a fair and transparent system for recognising prior learning. She noted, “Malawi’s adoption of RPL in higher education is about empowerment and breaking barriers. These guidelines will help people showcase their potential through recognition of their knowledge and skills—whether acquired formally, informally, or non-formally.” She also expressed appreciation for COL’s partnership in this initiative.

The validation workshop was facilitated by a team of regional and national experts, including Dr Orleans Mfune, an RPL specialist from Zambia; Dr Japhet Bakuwa, Director of Standards and Quality Audits at NCHE; and Dr Adamson Thengolose, Chairperson of the NCHE RPL Task Team. The event brought together key stakeholders whose inputs were consolidated into the final version of the guidelines.

The successful validation of the RPL guidelines marks a milestone in Malawi’s journey toward more inclusive and flexible higher education. It also contributes to broader efforts across the Commonwealth to recognise diverse learning pathways and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.