The newly appointed chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Jakaya Kikwete, has reiterated his commitment to making the varsity a premier higher learning institution that would be a source of well equipped leaders of the future.
Dr Kikwete made the remarks yesterday during his maiden visit to
UDSM, saying that his desire was to ensure the institution became an
outstanding higher education facility that would continue to train and
produce future leaders of the nation.
The immediate former president was appointed by President John
Magufuli as the fifth Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam
(UDSM) this year after the death of former chancellor of the institution
Fulgence Kazaura in 2014.
During his tour Dr Kikwete was touched by student’s grievances and
promised that during his leadership he would ensure that several
challenges, including loan arrears, facing the young scholars would be
solved.
“We should ensure that when someone seeks to employ graduates they
will first take into consideration those from the University of Dar es
Salaam. But all higher learning institutions should have the same
ambitions,” he noted.
During his tour the former president also witnessed the ongoing
construction of various facilities including the new Mining building at
College of Engineering and Technology (CoET), Multi-science complex,
Yombo Theatre and the Students Centre close to the new library
premises.
Presenting the state of the university, its achievements,
challenges and way forward to the newly appointed Udsm chancellor, the
vice chancellor, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala, said the institution’s strategy
was to continue with efforts to expand postgraduate studies both in
terms of programmes on offer and admissions.
According to him, the student population has grown from 14 in 1961
to about 24,000 in 2015, consisting of approximately 20,000
undergraduates and 4,000 postgraduates.
“Although new strategically valuable undergraduate programmes will
continue to be introduced, the current policy regarding admissions at
this level is to maintain the status quo,” he said.
However, Prof Mukandala mentioned various challenges facing the
facility, including decaying of the existing infrastructure especially
halls of residence, staff houses, laboratories, lecture and seminar
rooms as well as water supply systems, sewage disposal and the internal
road system.
“Others are inadequate space for all activities and functions,
non-existent infrastructure to cater for students’ accommodation needs
and important scientific and technical equipment to meet the needs of
the ongoing and newly introduced teaching or training programmes,” he
said.
For his part, the chairman of the UDSM council, Peter Ngumbullu
highlighted the way forward and future of the institution, saying among
other things that it was time for the university to invest in e-learning
due to the availability and wide use of Information Communication
Technology (ICT).
He said they also planned to expand and modernise postgraduate
training programmes and activities as well as make advances in research
planning and management. The institution also planned to establish
strong alumni networks in order to strengthen their solidarity and
compassion with the university.
The deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof Florens Luoga, reiterated
their commitment to the new Chancellor and expressed his hope that UDSM
would remain a medium-sized institution that excels in world class
research and training at the postgraduate level, while offering quality
and strategically developed undergraduate programmes.
He applauded Dr Kikwete for his appointment, saying the management
would continue to implement all the directives he issued at the climax
of the Golden Jubilee cerebrations of the university on October 27,
2011.
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