Collaboration in higher education between Tanzania and Nordic countries
A workshop on educational collaboration between Tanzania and Nordic countries was recently held with the aim of identifying common challenges and opportunities in higher education.
Despite the Nordic countries having several funding instruments to support student and faculty exchange as well as research collaboration, Tanzanian universities still suffer from outdated curricula that do not prepare students for working life. Research output at most Tanzanian universities is unacceptably low, as shown by the Global Innovation Index (GII).
The goal of the workshop was to explore how collaboration between Tanzania and the Nordic countries could benefit both parties. Currently, Nordic universities are struggling with decreasing student numbers, while Tanzania faces the challenge of designing curricula that provide students with the competencies needed to secure a reasonable job or start their own business.
A key focus was the employability of university graduates in Tanzania and the requirements this places on transforming the University of Iringa. The workshop emphasised the importance of a co-learning process between the South and the North.
Representatives from the following universities participated in the workshop:
- University of Iringa, Tanzania
- University of Turku, Finland
- Uppsala universitet, Sverige
The delegation included distinguished academics and leaders such as Professor Edward Hoseah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Iringa, Ms Lilian Badi, Professor Erkki Sutinen, Dr Jaakko Helminen, and Mr Lannie Uwu-Khaeb. The Tanzanian embassy was represented by Ambassador H.E. Grace Olutu and Officer Abel Maganya. From Uppsala University, Professor Mats Daniels, Professor Anna Eckerdal, Associate Professor Calkin Suero Montero, and Head of Department Robin Strand participated. Large parts of the Uppsala Computing Education Research Group (UpCERG) were present as well as Reverend Stefan Holmström, Uppsala.
In the picture, some of the workshop participants can be seen with representatives from the University of Iringa in Tanzania, the University of Turku, and Uppsala University. Photo: private
The day's programme included presentations and discussions on Tanzanian and Nordic perspectives, followed by brainstorming sessions on future collaboration and funding opportunities. The workshop concluded with a summary and closing remarks.