UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

By UDSM-CMU correspondent,

As the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) launched the Industrial Advisory Committees (IACs) under the World Bank's Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) initiative, the government has hailed it for implementing the project speedy and exemplarily.

The committees were launched by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Prof. Adolf Mkenda, who was represented by the Director of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry, Dr. Ken Hosea. The IACs aim to strengthen the link between UDSM and the industry through various engagements including ensuring that the University graduates are labour market relevant.

Dr. Hosea said that the committees were a very significant component in the implementation of the HEET project and especially in its objective of undertaking major transformation in the higher education sector in the country.

“As we launch these committees, let me also be very honest with you Vice Chancellor, Prof. William Anangisye: we commend the University of Dar es Salaam for the exemplary work you are doing in the HEET project implementation. In this project, UDSM has been used as a model in many aspects including preparation of terms of references for procurement processes, guidelines and many other aspects”, said Dr. Hosea.

Dr. Hosea, who is also the HEET Project National Coordinator at the Ministry, further emphasized that, through the project a total one trillion Tanzania Shillings has been allocated to different higher learning institutions in Tanzania including UDSM, aimed at transforming higher education in Tanzania.

An important milestone

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof. William Anangisye said the launching of the Industrial Advisory Committees marked an important milestone in the implementation of the HEET Project and was one of its important components in its core design.

“Today we are launching only four Industrial Advisory Committees which were initially in the HEET Project. As some of you are aware, the scope of industrial cooperation has been expanded and in future, more Industrial Advisory Committees covering other areas of specialisation or clusters will be launched”, said Prof. Anangisye.

Prof. Anangisye said the committees would bring together stakeholders and colleagues from the industry whose feedback was very crucial as UDSM embarked on curriculum review and the Tracer Studies that was underway. Through the reviewed curriculum the University hoped to strengthen its mode of delivery by formalising industrial linkages.

“Through this arrangement, we hope to engage experts in the field to interact and teach our students in more formalised ways. In the same way our members of the academic staff will get an opportunity to contribute to specific areas identified by our colleagues in the industry. The merit of this arrangement is obvious: our students will benefit immensely from interaction with people with years of experience in practicing many of the things that are taught in theory”, added Prof. Anangisye.

He also emphasized that: “the University will have unfettered access to resources and facilities available in the industry. We could access facilities of giant telecommunication companies operating in the country. Of course, we shall also leave our doors open to our stakeholders in the industry to have access to some of our facilities that might not be available to them”.

USD 47.5 million for education advancement

UDSM has received USD 47.5 million for various education advancement activities including, according to the University of Dar es Salaam Deputy HEET Coordinator, Dr. Liberato Haule, establishing new campuses in Bukoba and Lindi in Kagera and Lindi regions respectively.

“There will be other education transformation activities which will involve construction of infrastructure (16 new buildings) including state of the art ICT infrastructure and equipment, upgrading of learning resources and equipment at the Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere Mlimani Campus and its Institute of Marine Sciences, in Zanzibar aiming at increasing enrollment capacity of female students in particular, in degree programmes in the fields of engineering, science, and technology”, said Dr. Haule.

He added that other HEET project areas at UDSM included improving quality and labour market relevance of programmes through upgrading of curricula and development of new curricula; introducing innovative pedagogical methodologies including strengthening gender and inclusive education; and promotion of research and innovation capacity.