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- Jul 30, 2008
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Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), former president Dr Jakaya Kikwete
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.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
