UNIVERSITY of Dar es Salaam to Expand Student Intake

UNIVERSITY of Dar es Salaam to Expand Student Intake

THE UNIVERSITY of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) plans to expand its Open Distance and E-learning programme in all its faculties and colleges, in a bid to expand its capacity of student admission.

The Open Distance and E-Learning programme is being offered by the college of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at the UDSM through the African Virtual University (AVU) Multinational Project. The UDSM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala, said in Dar es Salaam that the AVU Project is in line with the UDSM Vision 2061.

He added that the vision emphasises on optimal use of ICT as a learning tool for day-to-day application. "With developments in ICT, more and more materials of educational value are freely available to students," said the UDSM Vice-Chancellor through a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Florens Luoga, who is the corporate counsel and secretary to the university's council.

He was speaking during a workshop and the launching of the AVU Multinational Support Project Phase II whose aim is to increase access to higher education and training through the innovative use of ICT. Prof Mukandala noted that the UDSM has been working in various joint ventures with the AVU since 2004 and that the university has achieved impressive milestones in the course of first phase impleamentation.

"About 450 students were trained at Bachelor and Diploma levels. Many of the AVU Phase One graduates proceeded to postgraduate levels or were employed in reputable organizations nationally and internationally," he said.

Ms Catherine Wangeci Thuo, who is the AVU Project Manager, said the project, which has been financed by the African Development Bank (ADB), has trained more than 43,000 students across Africa.

She also said that the project has established the largest network of Open Distance and E-learning institutions in more than 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She said that the second phase of the project AVU would also envisage reducing gender disparity in science disciplines by awarding scholarships to female students. She added that the project will also include technical assistance to countries and universities.

"The mission will also involve raising the awareness of the partner institutions on the expected outcomes of the Multinational Project as well as enhancing the use of AVU's Open Education Resources," Ms Thuo said.