Principal Accreditation Officer

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) is a statutory corporation responsible for the regulation of higher education in the Country. NCHE was established by the NCHE Act, No. 15 of 2011, with, among others, the following mandates:

1. To promote and coordinate higher education institutions;
2. To register and de-register higher education institutions;
3. To harmonize selection of students to all public universities;
4. To regulate, determine and maintain standards of teaching, examinations, academic qualifications and academic facilities;
5. To develop a national qualification framework which is compatible with regional and international standards;
6. To determine minimum criteria and procedures for registration and de-registration of higher education institutions;
7. To accredit both public and private higher education institutions;
8. To design and recommend to the Minister institutional quality assurance standards for the establishment, standardization and accreditation of higher education institutions including standards of teaching and learning; infrastructure, physical plant and equipment; the development of curricula; libraries and learning resource centres; safety of teaching and learning facilities, and student transfer between programmes and higher education institutions.

The Council is therefore inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced Malawian professionals to be considered for the following vacant position:

Principal Accreditation Officer (Three-year Contract)
Grade: NC 5
Department: Registration and Accreditation Services
Reports to : Chief Accreditation Officer

PURPOSE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Job summary: To register higher education institutions and programmes in Malawi.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Maintaining documents required for accreditation of higher education institutions;
2. Facilitating the identification, training, and commissioning of peer reviewers;
3. Providing logistical support to site inspection team, peer reviewers and other panels during accreditation processes;
4. Drafting technical inspection and/or status reports;
5. Preparing schedule of activities;
6. Following up with peer reviewers to ensure timely submission of evaluation reports;
7. Maintaining a register of pre-qualified resource persons; database for approved programme per University; status report on evaluation of University Academic Programmes; and master register of all submitted programmes;
8. Responding to queries and correspondence from various stakeholders on accreditation requirements.
9. Drafting tools and instruments for accreditation.

Minimum Academic and Professional Qualifications/Work Experience

• Master’s Degree and a relevant Bachelor’s degree, PLUS
• Three (3) years’ experience of higher education.

Competencies and other Attributes

• Report writing, communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work in teams
• Networking skill
• ICT skill.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision
• Knowledge in legal instruments used for institutional accreditation
• Understanding of higher education legislation.

The application dossier (application letters, Curriculum Vitae with copies of certificates) must be forwarded to the address below before midnight on 12th September, 2025:

The Chief Executive Officer
National Council for Higher Education
Private Bag B317
Capital City
Lilongwe 3

NCHE House, Area 47 Sector 2 next to Chitukuko Petroda Filling Station.

Email: hr@nche.ac.mw

Only shortlisted applicants shall be acknowledged.

‘NCHE is an equal opportunity employer’