FOR fifty five years, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has
maintained its status as the leading higher learning institution in the
country, making immense contributions to knowledge creation, awareness
building and development in general.
UDSM Vice-Chancellor Prof Rwekaza
Mukandala says the public university has constantly been ranked among
the four out of 12 best universities in countries south of the Sahara by
Webometric assessments.
The Webometrics Ranking of World
Universities, also known as Ranking Web of Universities is a ranking
system for the world’s universities, based on a composite indicator that
takes into account both the volume of web contents and the visibility
and impacts of these web publications.
The Vice-Chancellor points out that
prominent scholars from the oldest university in the country have been
called upon to establish teaching programmes or manage higher learning
institutions, not only in Tanzania but also in other countries.
Established as a national university
meant to be a flag bearer for higher learning in the country, UDSM
solidly remains what it was intended to be. It faithfully discharges the
social and statutory imperatives honourably assigned to it at its
inception.
Prof Mukandala stresses that UDSM
remains ever prepared to face challenges of sustaining social and
political relevance to the Tanzanian society and Africa at large noting
that the University stands out as an icon of national determination,
commitment and delivery on knowledge creation and public service.
He says over 80,000 people have
graduated from the oldest university in the country for the past 55
years, saying some of these women and men have now retired after many
years of honourable service in key.
Prof Mukandala says the majority of them
are still actively steering the effort to improve human wellbeing in a
wide variety positions and roles as presidents, vice presidents, leaders
of political parties, government ministers, chief justices, attorney
generals in public and private organisations.
Among the notable UDSM alumni are fifth
phase government President John Magufuli and his predecessor Jakaya
Kikwete, who is the current Chancellor. Others are Ugandan President
Yoweri Museveni, former DRC President Laurent Kabila and former first
Vice President of Sudan John Garang de Mabior.
In light of looming era of oil and gas
in Tanzania, the University has sought relevance by establishing oil and
gas related courses in the fields of engineering, geology, law and
accounting.
According Prof to Mukandala, the
University has done this without abandoning the traditional foundations
of academia, such as philosophy, literary studies, history, the arts and
basic sciences.
“We’re determined to carry on the spirit
of devotion and perseverance shown by the founders of this University,”
he stresses. However, Prof Mukandala, points out inadequacy of space
for students and staff accommodation, laboratory work, seminars and
workshops as a major bottleneck against the efforts to realise the goals
of UDSM Vision 2061.
“Only through continued cooperation
between the university and its stakeholders can this challenge be
effectively handedly,” said the UDSM Vice Chancellor at 55th Anniversary
of UDSM ceremony in the city recently.
Prof Mukandala says the University has
put in place mechanisms for improving internal revenue generation and
engagement of its alumni and other stakeholders in the efforts. “These
efforts are expected to yield an improved capacity for the university to
undertake regular maintenance of its existing infrastructure,” he
observes.
Another challenge has been inadequacy of
human resources following the ten year ban on staff recruitment which
came as part of the implementation of the World Bank that imposed
Structural Adjustment Programme together with sharp increase in
students’ enrolment.
However, thanks to subsequent government
policy from 1996, the University was allowed to recruit increasing
numbers of fresh staff and the government assisted in meeting the cost
of training some of the newly recruited academic and technical staff.
Through these efforts, the gap between
the available staff and actual requirements has been minimised. There
are still threatening imbalance in the staff profile as in most
departments majority of staff are junior and still undergoing training
and mentoring.
This makes it inevitable for the departments concerned to rely on faculty staff who are serving on post retirement contracts.
With the presently standing government
directive to limit such post retirement engagements to age 65 for senior
lecturers and 70 for academic staff in professorial ranks, departments
are forced to shelve important programmes. Inadequacy of laboratory
facilities, office space, accommodation facilities for students and
staff and shortage of experienced academic staff have been the most
pressing challenges since the late 1980s.
New and large lecture theatres have been
constructed on the main campus and within the past ten years new
laboratories and office accommodation blocks have been completed on all
the campuses of the university.
More recently, the government has made a
radical move to construct student hostels on the Julius Nyerere Mlimani
Campus which will accommodate about 4,000 students upon completion
later this year.
As part of the celebrations to mark 55
years since its establishment, UDSM administration block has been named
after Cranford Pratt to honour its first principal while the main
library at UDSM has been renamed the Dr Wilbert K Chagula Library to
honour its second principal. Sharing his memories of university days
during the celebrations to mark 55 years since its establishment, Judge
(rtd) Joseph Warioba, says a shuttle had to commute them from Lumumba
Street, where UDSM began, to the now Samora Avenue for lecture.
“Our lecture theatres were situated in a
building opposite to now Samora Avenue NBC Branch while university
offices, library and common room was situated at Lumumba Street,”
recalls Judge Warioba, who is the current President of UDSM convocation.
Judge Warioba, who is also a former
Prime Minister, says before shifting to Mlimani Campus, students were
accommodated at Salvation Army Hostel at Kurasini while others were
accommodated at Msimbazi Hostel in Ilala.
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