“Increase Research Visibility”, urges Prof. Msoffe as UDSM concludes the 10th Research and Innovation Week
By Special Correspondent, CMU
The 10th edition of the University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) Research and Innovation Week concluded momentously on Wednesday, with the Guest of Honour Prof. Peter Msoffe, Director of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, calling for greater visibility of academic work and research as a catalyst for national development.
Prof. Msoffe, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Carolyne Nombo, emphasized in his closing address that publicly showcasing research is essential to attracting support from the government, private sector, and international collaborators.
“What you are doing during this Innovation Week—bringing academic work and research into the public domain—is a very important step. It can serve as a strong foundation for persuading the Government and the private sector to recognize and support the efforts of our scientists and innovators”, he said.
In his welcome remarks, UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, highlighted the university's unwavering commitment to research and innovation as pillars of its mandate, alongside teaching and public service.
“Through research and innovation, the university contributes to national development by generating solutions that meet evolving societal needs and drive socio-economic transformation,” he said.
Prof. Anangisye noted that UDSM’s research outputs have increasingly gained international recognition and impact, especially when conducted in collaboration with stakeholders and disseminated using digital platforms. He reaffirmed UDSM's strategy to promote multi-disciplinary research teams and partnerships with the private sector as envisioned in the University’s Vision 2061.
He candidly acknowledged ongoing challenges in research funding, which remains heavily reliant on external donors, with limited government or private sector investment. He said this may fuel perception that university research lacks relevance to Tanzania's development.
“To change this narrative, we have committed internal resources for five consecutive years to fund competitive research and innovation projects—demonstrating our belief in the power of local solutions,” said Prof. Anangisye.
He also stressed UDSM’s continued implementation of its Research Agenda (2023–2029), aimed at strengthening human capital, improving infrastructure, and attracting sustainable funding for research aligned with national priorities.
A Decade of growth, inclusion, and strategic impact
In his remarks at the closing ceremony, Prof. Nelson Boniface, UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research, reflected on the evolution of Research and Innovation Week since its inception in 2015.
“These celebrations mark ten years of institutional commitment to promoting research and innovation that can transform our country,” he said. “We have come a long way in terms of participation, visibility, and quality”, said Prof. Boniface.
Prof. Boniface revealed that this year’s activities, saw a record of 345 research and innovation projects exhibited at the unit level—an increase from 306 last year. Of these, 61% were presented by students, and participation by female researchers and students rose by 4% compared to 2024.
“This shows that UDSM continues to create an enabling environment that supports inclusive participation in research,” said Prof. Boniface.
The Research and Innovation Week showcased 104 projects, 65 of which from staff and 39 from students—reflecting steady growth in the university's research portfolio.
Prof. Boniface emphasized that judges assessed the projects across 11 carefully selected categories, leading to the identification of the most outstanding entries in both research and innovation.
“The increased number of student-led projects and the balanced gender representation signal a promising future for Tanzania’s research ecosystem,” he noted.
Beyond exhibitions, Prof. Boniface highlighted major side events, including expert panels on AI, digital infrastructure, and research commercialisation, as well as the ‘Strategic Partnership Dialogue’ that brought together stakeholders from academia, government, private sector, and the media to discuss deeper industry-academic collaboration.
Encouraging the next generation of researchers
Prof. Anangisye praised the increasing participation of young researchers—both students and early-career academics—in this year’s events, noting it as a sign of growing enthusiasm among Tanzania’s emerging scientific community.
He also acknowledged outstanding projects recognised during the event and reiterated the university’s commitment to rewarding excellence in research and innovation.
“These awards are a testament to UDSM’s research capacity and the ability of our scholars to stand confidently and contribute solutions to society. I urge the winners to use this recognition as a stepping stone to even greater achievements,” he said.
Prof. Boniface added that the award packages—including cash prizes, trophies, certificates, and project development funds—are meant to sustain momentum and help promising innovations deliver greater societal impact.
Aligning research with policy and development goals
Meanwhile, Prof. Msoffe, echoing the Vice Chancellor’s remarks, said universities must now focus on implementing Tanzania’s revised Education and Training Policy (2023), which emphasizes problem-solving, innovation, and employability.
“It is not enough to teach theory; we must produce graduates who can solve real problems and drive innovation in our society,” he added.
He applauded UDSM’s efforts to improve skills for the 21st century through innovation hubs, better industrial placements, and digital transformation—all aligned with Tanzania’s long-term development vision.
Prof. Msoffe urged UDSM to expand the scale of the Research and Innovation Week by engaging more stakeholders from across sectors and countries, and to continue training its researchers to compete for funding globally.
“Research funding today is highly competitive. Our researchers must be equipped to develop innovative, community-driven proposals,” he said.
He also recognized UDSM's collaboration with the National Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) and praised the university’s policies aimed at sustaining high-quality, impactful research.