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Fatuma Simba Ikuja

Senior Lecturer

College of Information and Communication Technologies

Centre for Virtual Learning

Biography

Dr. Fatuma Simba Ikuja is a senior lecturer at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania. She holds a PhD in Electronics Engineering and Information Technology awarded by the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), with a research focus on Connectivity Technologies for e-learning in rural areas of Tanzania.

Currently, Dr. Fatuma holds multiple leadership positions. She is the Head of the Centre for Virtual Learning (CVL) of the University of Dar es Salaam and the University-Industry Linkages Specialist for the World Bank-funded Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project (2021–2026).

Her research areas of interest where she publishes and offer consultancy services are on broadband communication networks, Cyber security, Multimedia Quality of Experience (QoE), Artificial intelligence for prediction of students’ performance and prediction of users’ QoE in online learning environment. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and international conference proceedings on topics ranging from broadband connectivity, ICT for rural development, and mobile learning to cybersecurity and multimedia Quality of Service and Quality of Experience in e-learning. Her scholarly output includes more than a dozen of peer-reviewed journal articles, multiple conference papers, and a book chapter. She also serves on editorial boards of the Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology. Her publications can be found in this link: https://tinyurl.com/FatumaSimba. 

Dr. Fatuma is also actively engaged in International research communities. She is a member of IEEE Communications Society and a member of Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). In 2023, she attended a Dagstuhl Seminar of Quality of Sustainable Experience (QoSE)- (https://www.dagstuhl.de/seminars/seminar-calendar/seminar-details/23042), held in Germany. In June 2024, she served as a keynote speaker and a member of the panel discussion in the 16th International Conference on Quality of Multimedia Experience (QoMEX’24) held from June 18 to 20, 2024 in Karlshamn, Sweden (https://qomex2024.itec.aau.at/keynotes/). In 2025, Dr. Simba was a member of organizing committee for the 16th ACM Multimedia Systems Conference and a co-chair of the diversity and inclusion panel in the conference, held from March 31st to April 3rd, 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

She is engaged in national corporate governance. From April, 2023 to November 2023, she served as a member of Board of Directors of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). In May, 2023 – May, 2025, she served a member of the Executive Committee of TERNET, the Tanzania Education and Research Network. Her leadership  development includes specialized training and certification on Regulation of Communication Sector, and training and certification on Leadership & Corporate Governance. 

In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Dr. Fatuma is a recognized consultant in the ICT sector. She has provided expert input to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology on strategic initiatives, including the development of digital technology institute (DTI), zonal soft centers (ZSC) and ICT equipment refurbishment centers (FABLABS), and on scanning and analysing technical, policy and legal requirements for utilization of Television White Space (TVWS) to provide broadband services in Rural Areas of Tanzania.

Research Interest

  1. Broadband communication networks
  2. Student performance and Quality of Experience (QoE) prediction in Digital learning
  3. Cyber Security
  4. Multimedia QoE

Contacts

Email:

Projects

Publications

Selected Journal Papers

  1. F. Simba, BM Mwinyiwiwa, EM Mjema, L Trojer and NH Mvungi, (2011). “Broadband Access Technologies for Rural Connectivity in Developing Countries”, International Journal of Research and Reviews in Computer Science, Vol. 2, No. 2, April 2011, pp 312-319.
  2. Simba, F., Trojer, L., Yonah, Z.O (2012). “Sustainable Broadband Connectivity Model for Rural Areas of Tanzania”, African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Vol 4, No. 2, pp 150 – 172.
  3. F Simba, L Trojer, NH Mvungi, BM Mwinyiwiwa, EM Mjema, (2009). “Strategies for Connectivity Configuration to Access e-Learning Resources: Case of Rural Secondary Schools in Tanzania”, International Journal of Behavioral, Cognitive, Educational and Psychological Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp 162-167, Summer, 2009.
  4. F. Simba, L. Trojer, B. Mwinyiwiwa, (2018); “Performance Evaluation of e-Learning Applications in UMTS Network”, International Journal of Computer Applications (IJCA), Vol 179, No.43, pp. 34-40, May 2018.
  5. Kwame Salum Ibwe and Fatuma Simba Ikuja: “The benefits and barriers of open platforms to promote teaching and learning in Tanzania’s higher learning institutions”. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 2024, Vol. 20, Issue 3, pp. 97-114.
  6. Hussein Sudi Lema, Fatuma Simba, Joseph Cosmas Mushi, “Security Enhancement of SIP Protocol in VoIP Communication”. Journal of ICT Systems, 2023, Volume 1(2) Pages 71-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56279/jicts.v1i2.32
  7. Idrissa S. Amour, Fatuma Simba, Septimi Kitta and Abdi T. Abdalla, “Digitisation of Classical Exercise Practices with Stack: Management of Large Mathematics Classes in Higher Education Institutions”. Tanzania Journal of Science 49(4): 921-929, 2023 ISSN 0856-1761, e-ISSN 2507-7961, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjs.v49i4.13
  8. Mbise. M and Simba. F., (2023): “Performance Evaluation of UDSM Network to Deliver Multimedia e-Learning Contents: Case of CoICT”, Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (Tanz. J. Engrg. Technol.), Vol. 41 (No. 4), Jan. 2023
  9. Magolanga. E, Andindilile. M and Simba. F (2022): “The Use of Online Social Media Platforms by Tanzania Journalists to Produce and Disseminate Development News” Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (Tanz. J. Engrg. Technol.), Vol. 41 (No. 3), Nov. 2022
  10. G. Chugulu, F. Simba, S. Lujara (2020); “Proposed Practical Communication Architecture for Automatic Fault Detection and Clearance in Secondary Distribution Power Network”, published in the International Journal of Smart Grid, Vol.4, No.4, Pg 164 – 175, December, 2020. https://ijsmartgrid.org/index.php/ijsmartgridnew/article/view/130
  11. Lema, H.S and Simba, F, (2019): Preventing IP Spoofing Attacks in a Shared Resources Network. Published in the International Journal of Cyber-Security and Digital Forensics (IJCSDF) 8(2): pp 144-151 The Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communications (SDIWC), 2019 ISSN: 2305-001
  12. Byanyuma, M., Yonah, Z.O., Simba, F., Trojer, L., (2018) "Utilization of Broadband Connectivity in Selected Areas in Arusha Tanzania" International Journal of Computing and Digital Systems (Int. J. Com. Dig. Sys.) Vol 7, No.2, pp. 75-83, Mar-2018.
  13. Byanyuma, M., Yonah, Z. O., Simba, F. and Lena Trojer, L. (2017); “Overview of Broadband Connectivity for Rural Areas-Tanzania as a Case Study”; International Journal of Computer Science and Information Security (IJCSIS), Vol. 15(4); 312 – 320.

  14. G. M. George, F. Simba, Z. O.Yonah, (2014). “ICT as a Tool for Improving Information Flow among Livestock Stakeholders. A Case Study of Tanzania” International Journal of Computer Science, IJCSIS Vol. 12, No. 8, ISSN 1947-5500, pp. 118-128.

     

Book Chapter

Massam, V., Simba, F., Kateule, R. (2022). Extending Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) System to Disseminate Extreme Weather Warnings to a Wider Population in Tanzania. In: Marx Gómez, J., Lorini, M.R. (eds) Digital Transformation for Sustainability. Progress in IS. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15420-1_27