UDSM MOST PRESTIGIOUS VARSITY 55 YEARS ON

 

By Ludovick Kazoka

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.

DAILY NEWS