On 30^th August 2022, the College received Dr. Debojyoti Das, a researcher from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. Dr. Das is an anthropologist of South Asia, who focuses his research on borderlands of eastern Indian Ocean to understand climate change, natural disaster, migration and sustainable development issues among marginalized coastal communities.

Dr. Das is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Collaborative Project on Environmental Refugees in the Indian Ocean Region funded by Social Science Research Council (SSRC). The field sites for this transregional project are Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, and Tanzania. In implementing project activities in Tanzania, Dr. Das has collaborated with three DUCE academic staff members, namely, Prof. Stephen Maluka, Dr. Almas Mazigo, and Dr. Victoria Makulilo.

Speaking during a brief meeting, Dr. Das said his visit in Tanzania will involve meetings and discussions with members of the Centre for Social and Political Research (CSPR) at DUCE on strengthening academic collaborations, and touring of the Msimbazi Valley and Mabwepande Mji Mpya where the displaced flood victims of the 2011 floods were reallocated.

Responding in the conversation, on behalf of the College Principal, the Deputy Principal (PFA), Dr. Method Samwel said that the College is enthusiastically waiting for the findings of the project. He also requested the team to look for more opportunities or similar projects that are likely to support more researchers. He promised to support the two institutions to strategically work more closely on research, innovations, publications, curriculum development, postgraduate supervision and staff development.