BACKGROUND |
The Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology in Arusha (NM AIST-Arusha) is one in a network of Pan-African Institutes of Science and Technology located across the continent. These institutes, which are the proud brainchild of Nelson Mandela, envision to train and develop the next generation of African scientists and engineers with a view to impacting profoundly on the continent's development through the application of science, engineering and technology (SET). The NM AIST-Arusha, which is accredited by Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is being developed into a world class research intensive institution for postgraduate and post-docs studies and research in SET. The training in SET, however, incorporates appreciable doses of relevant humanities and business studies ingredients. Life sciences and bio-engineering is being developed to become one of the niche areas of the NM AIST-Arusha, taking advantage of the immense bio-diversity in the region. The institution thus, seeks to stimulate, catalyze and promote intensification of agricultural production, and value addition to the various natural products (agricultural, mineral, etc) produced in Tanzania and the Eastern African region. Other main thematic areas to be covered by NM AIST-Arusha include Energy, ICT, Mining, Environment and Water. Emphasis will be placed on linkage to society and the local industry, and scientific and technological response to local needs. Thus the training curricular also incorporate strong innovation and entrepreneurship features, viz. strong academia-industry relations are part of the NM AIST-Arusha's development agenda. NM AIST-Arusha's curricular also seek to accommodate, enable, stimulate and catalyze the innovation and entrepreneurship qualities inherent in the Y-generation for the benefit of SSA's sustainable development. The specific objectives of NM AIST-Arusha are to:
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