January 2023 Construction Update

Below is a construction update on the Mzuzu University library.

The Mzuni Library Initiative

Progress continues to be made on the construction of Mzuzu University’s new library. The images below show how the construction of the second half (on the left) of the library is progressing. The first floor is complete and the columns/supporting walls are now being installed on the second floor. Malawi is also in the middle of its wet season, which is characterized by high temperatures and humidity and regular afternoon downpours. The clouds in the images point to some of this weather, which will hopefully not disrupt construction over the next couple of months.

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Library Construction Update

The foundations for the new library at Mzuzu University are now under construction. More updates to come once the structure of the library begins to take shape.

The Mzuni Library Initiative

The construction of the new library at Mzuzu University is underway. The images below were shared by Felix Majawa (Mzuzu University’s Chief Liberian). We will share more updates as the construction progress continues.

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Establishing Data Centre at Mzuzu University

The Mzuni Library Initiative

The presentation below was recorded for the International Association of Social Sciences Information Service and Technology (IASSIST), 1st African Regional Workshop, from January 11-13, 2021. In the presentation, Felix Majawa (Mzuzu University, Malawi) and Ralph Hall (Virginia Tech, USA) discuss the findings from a stakeholder survey that was sent to faculty and staff at Mzuzu University and Virginia Tech about a proposed data centre that could be located in Mzuzu University’s new library. The abstract form a report on the survey responses is provided below.

REPORT ABSTRACT

Mzuzu University lost its Library as a result of a fire that took place on 18th December 2015. In response, the university decided to establish two processes. The first was to restore information services within six months by creating an interim Library. The second was to design a new library in collaboration with Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture and Design in the…

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Houston Event – Dec 13

Beloved Community Initiative

At 4:30pm on Thursday, Dec 13, 2018, Dr. Virgil Wood, Dr. Carlos Phillips, Dr. Owen Cardwell, Dr. Ralph Hall, and Dr. Ryan Hulbert will be speaking at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston about “Lifting the Veil of Ignorance, Reversing the Jail Trail, and Jump Starting Viable Economic Futures for All.” Please come and join us if you are located in the Houston area.

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Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC) Webinar

Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development

On December 5 at 1pm (EST), Prof. Ashford and I will be giving a webinar on our revised textbook as part of the Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC) webinar series. During the webinar we will explore the central ideas covered in the textbook and discuss how we teach such a comprehensive range of theories, subjects, and approaches to advancing sustainable development.

To pre-register, go to: http://bit.ly/2U2hm0C

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Watch the BCI Event Live

Beloved Community Initiative

The 2018 Beloved Community Initiative Humanities Summit (from 1:30-5:00pm on Tuesday, Nov 27) can now be watched live via Facebook and Zoom.

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/events/184681032460304/

The event will feature the following sessions:

1:30 – 2:45 PM: The History of the Civil Rights Movement through the Lens of the Winning Essays and the Ancestors

  • Panel hostProf. Sylvester Johnson (Director of the VT Center for Humanities)
  • Panel members: Essay Contest Winners, Dr. Virgil Wood (Church Leader, Educator, and Civil Rights Activist), and Prof. Corey Walker (VUU Vice President, Dean and Professor of Religion and Society)

3:00 – 4:45 PM: Strategies to Overcome Structural Forms of Inequality to Create Systems of Economic and Social Justice

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VT’s Navy ROTC Helps Organize Next Shipment of Books

The Mzuni Library Initiative

We would like to thank the Midshipmen in Bravo Company from Virginia Tech’s Navy ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) unit for helping us organize our second shipment of books to Mzuzu University. The video below provides some insight into what it takes to process over 100 boxes of books (weighing over 4,000 lbs) in 1.5 hours. We could not have done this so efficiently without the help of the NROTC. We plan to ship these books later this fall.

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