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In a colourful ceremony, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan laid the foundation stone for the mega academic building and workshops under construction at the MUST Rukwa Campus on 17th July 2024. The infrastructure development, which is part of the implementation of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project, is a government initiative aimed at transforming higher education and making it more accessible to all Tanzanians. The event was graced by prominent leaders such as the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, the Chairperson of the MUST Council, the Regional Commissioner, District Commissioner and the traditional leaders.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Prof. Aloys Mvuma stated that the infrastructure being developed at the Campus included an academic block with a capacity of accommodating 1,950 users with a built up area of 6,875 m2 and workshops with a capacity of 550 users and a built up area of 2,550 m2. He noted that the total cost of the infrastructure development including the cost of the contractor and consultant was approximately TZS 15.6 billion. He further noted that once completed, the Campus will be able to admit 2,500 students. The Campus will offer programmes in line with the reviewed National Education and Training Policy 2014, 2023 Edition and will focus mainly on agricultural engineering and technologies. The emphasis will be on practical education which will enable graduates to acquire technical and vocational skills in their areas of study. The University aims to fulfil the President’s vision of ensuring that Tanzania leads in crop production and supply in the region by providing training in technologies that will help to achieve this goal.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda welcomed the President to the Campus and noted that the Project was a massive strategic investment by the Government which will enable access to higher education in Rukwa Region. He noted further that the new Campus will offer courses in line with the reviewed National Education and Training Policy as per the President’s directives.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that the Government had made a massive investment in higher education with the aim of strengthening delivery of higher education. This includes establishing higher learning institution in regions which did not have them and shifting the focus of higher education to impartation of practical skills which can enable graduates to become self- employed and to be more technologically knowledgeable. The President also noted that in the Rukwa region, residents were using mud bricks for building purposes and she instructed that the youth should be equipped with modern brickmaking and laying skills so that they can improve the quality of houses in the region while making a living through these skills. She noted that the Project had brought about a major transformation in higher education in the country and that the Government had also reviewed the National Education and Training Policy to include more practical skills so as to enable graduates to be more employable and to be able to self-employ themselves.