News

By Jackson Isdory, CMU

In a momentous stride towards academic excellence, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has set a record by elevating 56 academic staff members to higher academic ranks, including senior lecturer, associate professor and professor.

According to the information released by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic, the University Council, on 25th September 2023, approved promotions of three members of the academic staff from Associate Professor to Professor position and 13 members from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor position.

“In the meantime, the Appointments Committee has as well approved promotions of 40 members of the academic staff from different UDSM units, from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer”, stated the information, signed by the UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic, Prof. Bonaventure Rutinwa.

Commenting on this achievement, UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye  said this accomplishment stood as a monumental achievement for the university and the Tanzanian academic community, showcasing the University’s firm commitment to academic ability and research advancement.

“The significant promotion milestone is a fruition of strategic initiatives that the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan and UDSM have been diligently implementing over the past few years”, said Prof. Anangisye.

He added, “These endeavors have not only addressed a long-standing gap in academic ranks but have also raised the bar for academic excellence in the region.”

Prof. Anangisye insisted that the success of this extraordinary feat was attributed to an array of strategic efforts encompassing strategic funding allocation, innovative management strategies, and proactive government initiatives, and that such “efforts have boosted UDSM into the limelight of academic distinction”.

Government's Vision and University's Commitment

The Tanzanian government, in alignment with its vision for educational enhancement, has actively encouraged academic staff to delve into extensive research endeavors for the betterment of the nation.

In line with UDSM efforts on research and publication, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, recently introduced a TZS 50,000,000/= prize for the best publication in highly reputable international journals, serving as a significant motivational catalyst.

Similarly, as per its Scholarly Publication and Dissemination Policy and Guidelines of 2021, and which was revised in 2023, UDSM set aside 20% of research institutional fee for rewarding researchers and patent holders annually.

In addition, according to the UDSM Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor-Research, Prof. Nelson Boniface, the University awards monetary prizes and plaques for individuals who have excelled in publications to the first, second and third winner, respectively during research and innovation week annually.

Empowering research and Innovation

Meanwhile, UDSM Grant Cordinator Dr. Mathew Senga said that UDSM has consistently bolstered its research funds and projects, fostering a culture of research and innovation among its faculty and students.

“The university's research and innovation budget has witnessed a substantial surge, rising from TZS 1,500,000,000/= in 2018/2019 to TZS 3,150,000,000/= in 2022/2023, supplemented by additional funding from both national and international sources”, said Dr. Senga.

He said that since its establishment in 2018, the UDSM Competitive Research and Innovation Grant five calls have been announced with a total value amounting TZS 10,605,000,000/=. “This has played a pivotal role in supporting scholarly endeavors, attracting a multitude of proposals and awarding grants to further research initiatives”.

Nurturing academic talent and pioneering research outputs

Meanwhile, in enhancing research and publication capacity, UDSM has facilitated its faculty members to pursue further studies in esteemed academic and research institutions globally, thus promoting academic excellence and knowledge sharing.

“This commitment extends to nurturing students' research aspirations, with many benefiting from the university's financial support. A vibrant academic community has emerged, fostering innovation and substantial contributions to various academic domains,” said the Director of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. Donata Tibuhwa.

UDSM Director of Research and Publication, Dr. Mussa Mgwatu, said that the University has showcased an impressive array of research outputs aimed at addressing Tanzania's socio-economic challenges. The University boasts 24 academic journals, all indexed in different databases and equipped with Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs).

“Faculty members have published over 1,000 peer-reviewed articles in highly reputable journals, garnering an impressive 120,000 citations - a substantial leap from previous years. UDSM is also proactively promoting collaboration and networking among its researchers and counterparts from other institutions”, said Dr. Mgwatu.

He said that the University hosts conferences, workshops, and events that facilitate knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It also covers travel and upkeep costs for researchers wishing to attend and present their research outputs in international conferences.

In the same vein, UDSM has also revamped its physical library space, and expanded collection of materials, access to electronic and digital resources, and the establishment of a comprehensive research support service. It is also upgrading laboratory facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, and constructing an ultra-modern central chemical laboratory.