A new memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Saturday between the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) to strengthen cooperation.
The move, which aims to address the problem of graduates lacking the necessary skills for the job market, was praised by Prof. Caroline Nombo, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, who was present at the signing of the agreement.
The official directed all Tanzanian higher education institutions to follow suit through the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) program, funded by the government of Tanzania.
"Today we have signed an agreement between UDSM and TPSF as well as Ruwasa to see how this cooperation between universities and industry will bear fruit for our main agenda of imparting necessary skills to our graduates," Prof. Nombo said. "We want all universities, especially public ones, to make sure that they strengthen collaborations with the private sector through MoUs as a proper way to formalise partnerships."
Prof. Nombo stressed that employers, especially those in the private sector, play a crucial role in enhancing the country's education system by formalizing partnerships with universities.
According to Nombo, the aim of such cooperation is to produce graduates who possess the necessary skills demanded by the job market. The private sector is expected to contribute by providing knowledge, ideas, and funds for research.
Raphael Maganga, the acting executive director of TPSF, highlighted the employment challenges faced by graduates, with only a small percentage finding formal sector jobs. He added that TPSF, with its wide network of member companies across the country, would promote such programs.
"We will also highlight how our companies will develop the skills of university students so that when they graduate, they can be easily employed and self-employed," Maganga said. "We will start special programs to help develop graduates' skills through internships, field attachments, and other placements."
He also emphasized the need for all Tanzanian companies to implement these programs to help students and graduates acquire the skills needed in various sectors.
UDSM, in its efforts to improve graduates' employability, conducted tracer studies by visiting major employers to identify areas of improvement. The university also established industrial advisory committees earlier this year.
UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof. William Anangisye stated that the partnership agreement would further enhance their ongoing efforts and enable collaboration between academia and industry to find solutions to the challenges faced by Tanzanians.
"We want to cooperate to overcome current challenges. We have the manpower in the sense of various professionals who will also help the private sector grow further in areas of agriculture, mining, tourism, and industrialization," he said.