Malawi’s Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka, has called for the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education to improve learning, research and access to educational resources.
Speaking at the Global Smart Education Conference at Beijing Normal University in China on Tuesday, Msaka said AI was already changing the way knowledge was created, accessed and shared, as well as how students learned and academics taught and conducted research.
He said the debate should no longer be about whether AI would affect higher education, but how governments and institutions could ensure the technology became a force for transformation rather than increasing inequality and exclusion.
Msaka said AI could personalise learning, support students with different learning needs, strengthen research and innovation, improve academic administration and widen access to quality educational resources.
The minister said the technology could also help countries such as Malawi develop the skills needed for future economies.
At the same time, Msaka warned of risks including academic dishonesty, misinformation, data privacy concerns, intellectual property violations, algorithmic bias and changes in employment.
He also cautioned that differences in access to digital infrastructure could develop into an “AI divide”, leaving students and institutions with limited technological resources further behind.
On data protection, Msaka said Malawi’s Data Protection Act provides for responsible access to student and staff data while protecting their rights and privacy.
He said AI integration in developing countries must be inclusive and should not allow access to educational opportunities to depend on a person’s location, income or access to technology.
The minister called for a shift from simply introducing AI tools in classrooms to rethinking what and how students are taught.
Msaka said students should be equipped with technical skills alongside critical thinking, creativity, ethical judgement, communication skills and the ability to work responsibly with intelligent technologies.
He also stressed the importance of investing in lecturers, teachers and academics, saying technology should support human capacity rather than replace it.
According to Msaka, universities should remain places where students develop judgement, values, curiosity and a sense of responsibility to society, while AI should be used to strengthen teaching, research and innovation.
He urged education leaders to approach AI with ambition and responsibility, while ensuring inclusion and protecting the values at the heart of education.
Msaka said, if properly managed, AI could help make higher education more accessible, personalised, innovative and responsive to the needs of society.
The Global Smart Education Conference was being held under the theme, “AI in Higher Education: From Disruption to Transformation”.
Read full story: https://www.malawivoice.com/2026/08/18/beijing-global-smart-education-conference-msaka-calls-for-responsible-integration-of-ai-in-higher-education/
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