At the time the university opened its doors, the Chancellor was Malawi's former president Bakili Muluzi and the first Vice-Chancellor was Professor Terrence Davis.

[3] The National Council for Higher Education administers access to six institutions with their public universities selection (PUS)[4] process.

ODeL offers school leavers and mature students an alternative route to access and enter into tertiary studies.

For example, in 2016, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) established an ODL unit on their campus.

The school operates the following research centres: This Malawi university, college or other education institution article is a stub.