Gangi Longa
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 5, 2010
- 275
- 135
Africa varsity ranking irks UDSM don
THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has differed with the ranking of the Web of World Universities which has placed the Tanzanian university in the 24th slot out of 100 institutions in Africa.
The university has been ranked Number Three in East Africa after Makerere University of Uganda and Strathmore University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Makerere University, which is in the city of Kampala, has been ranked 15th out of 100 universities in the continent and Strathmore University of Nairobi has taken slot number 22.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at the UDSM, Prof Makenya Maboko, said today that the web based ranking of the universities does not consider the quality of education that a university offers.
He said that what is considered is the number of times people have visited university websites.
"The web based ranking of universities reflects the popularity of the university's website but they don't look at the quality of education, students or lecturers in that particular university," Prof. Maboko said.
He said that in East and Central Africa, UDSM was leading in terms of providing quality education as well as employing qualified lecturers -- most of them with PhDs.
This, he said is reflected in the diversity of programmes offered by the university and the number of international links the university of Dar es Salaam has with other universities.
"Last year, we signed more than ten new contracts with foreign universities. This reflects the quality of education we provide here," he noted.
He said that UDSM receives many students from neighbouring countries despite the higher costs of education compared to the rates at Makerere which was ranked number 15 on the continent and first in East Africa.
Strathmore University of Nairobi, which was ranked 22nd on the continent and second in the East African Community (EAC) is a small university with less than 10 programmes compared to UDSM.
"The University of Dar es Salaam is considered as one of the leading universities in Africa. This means we provide good education and we should not be deterred by web based rankings which do not look at quality but web popularity," he noted.
Sokoine University of Agriculture was ranked number 82 out of 100 universities in Africa.
Numbers one to eight have been taken by South African universities. These include the University of Cape Town, the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University.
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=7713&cat=home
THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has differed with the ranking of the Web of World Universities which has placed the Tanzanian university in the 24th slot out of 100 institutions in Africa.
The university has been ranked Number Three in East Africa after Makerere University of Uganda and Strathmore University of Nairobi in Kenya.
Makerere University, which is in the city of Kampala, has been ranked 15th out of 100 universities in the continent and Strathmore University of Nairobi has taken slot number 22.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at the UDSM, Prof Makenya Maboko, said today that the web based ranking of the universities does not consider the quality of education that a university offers.
He said that what is considered is the number of times people have visited university websites.
"The web based ranking of universities reflects the popularity of the university's website but they don't look at the quality of education, students or lecturers in that particular university," Prof. Maboko said.
He said that in East and Central Africa, UDSM was leading in terms of providing quality education as well as employing qualified lecturers -- most of them with PhDs.
This, he said is reflected in the diversity of programmes offered by the university and the number of international links the university of Dar es Salaam has with other universities.
"Last year, we signed more than ten new contracts with foreign universities. This reflects the quality of education we provide here," he noted.
He said that UDSM receives many students from neighbouring countries despite the higher costs of education compared to the rates at Makerere which was ranked number 15 on the continent and first in East Africa.
Strathmore University of Nairobi, which was ranked 22nd on the continent and second in the East African Community (EAC) is a small university with less than 10 programmes compared to UDSM.
"The University of Dar es Salaam is considered as one of the leading universities in Africa. This means we provide good education and we should not be deterred by web based rankings which do not look at quality but web popularity," he noted.
Sokoine University of Agriculture was ranked number 82 out of 100 universities in Africa.
Numbers one to eight have been taken by South African universities. These include the University of Cape Town, the University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University.
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=7713&cat=home