CIDA MALAWI TEVET REF aspirations ( to live productive lives , maintain cultural integrity , and contribute to the growth and well-being of our country ), but how we go about achieving them can be quite different . Often we as Canadians will focus on difference and miss the factors that unify us because the details of differences grab our total attention . When one of the participants was questioned about the challenges experienced with living and working as a Muslim , this educator responded ‘ We are Malawians first and Muslim second .’” Doris Mtemang ’ ombe also says , “ We worked together and shared experiences ; we had problems but we never lost hope ; the Canadian team encouraged us to fight on , and here we are .” Doctoral student and Malawi Project Manager , Rabson Mgawi says , “ The project provided the Polytechnic with a chance to create better and lasting relationships with its partners .”
Flexibility was also seen as critical for the success of this project . Margaret Dagenais says , “ Flexibility is critical . To enjoy an international assignment and to learn from the experience , I had to be flexible about my expectations with regard to almost everything .” Rabson Mgawi also notes , “ I learnt that teaching and learning processes are complicated and as such required preparation , flexibility , and use of various methods to ensure effective and efficient delivery .” Margaret says , “ Learning takes time and needs opportunities
CIDA Tier 1 Grant Announcement ( 2008 )
Research Unit Study Tour ( Oct 2009 )
Gender Study Tour in Canada ( Sept 2010 )
Management Workshop ( July 2011 )
Instructional Skills Workshop ( April 2012 )
to use the concepts in multiple ways .” She learned to “ listen to the participants and to respond to their needs . Paying attention often meant revising the strategies to achieve the project goals .” She further notes , “ communication was critical to addressing the taken-forgranted assumptions that North American educators had about
Curriculum and Policy Study Tour ( June 2009 )
Project Steering Committee Meeting ( Feb 2009 )
Curriculum , Gender , and Grad Study Tour ( Sept 2010 )
Marketing Workshop with President Timmons ( June 2011 )
Visiting Scholars at the University of Regina ( Oct 2012 )
the instructional space and the educational leadership , which led to miscommunications and unmet expectations .”
What did this project mean for the U of R ? President Vianne Timmons says , “ The Malawi project was a significant learning experience for faculty , staff , and students at the U continued on page 11
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