UDSM sees success in $49.5m HEET project with 80 per cent done
DAR ES SALAAM: THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has reached 80 per cent implementation of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project worth 49.5m US dollars, aimed at aligning higher education with Tanzania’s industrial and digital economy.
The project, part of a national programme valued at 425 million US dollars funded by the World Bank, is coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and runs from July 2021 to June 2026.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Confucius Institute auditorium, UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof William Anangisye said the initiative is a key driver in improving infrastructure, modernising curricula and strengthening academic and research capacity.
He said through the project, the university is constructing new campuses in Lindi and Kagera regions, while over 11 modern teaching and administrative buildings are under construction in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. In addition, student hostels with a total capacity of 437 beds are being developed to enhance accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Prof Anangisye said the new facilities will increase the university’s capacity to serve more than 45,000 students across its campuses.
Meanwhile, under digital transformation, UDSM has strengthened its ICT infrastructure by expanding internet bandwidth from 1.5Gbps to 10Gbps, and equipped lecture halls with smart teaching technology serving 8,000 students at once.
According to him, the university has also digitised 1,000 courses, reaching over 39,000 students and 600 lecturers, while 377 teaching staff have been trained in online and blended learning methods.
In addition, the university has reviewed 250 academic programmes to align them with market and industrial demands, while 29 staff have been sponsored for further studies including 17 pursuing PhDs and 12 pursuing Master’s degrees in globally recognised universities.
Prof Anangisye said the project has also strengthened collaboration with the private sector through Industry Advisory Committees, which link academic programmes with labour market needs. So far, UDSM has signed 24 partnership agreements with companies, enabling over 100 graduates to gain internship placements and 38 lecturers to acquire industrial experience.
He added that through the Technology Development and Transfer Centre, the university continues to support innovation and provide technical solutions to industries and the community, contributing to increased institutional income and visibility.
The Vice Chancellor further said the project has already improved the quality of teaching and learning, increased access to higher education and boosted graduate employability, noting that 82 per cent of UDSM graduates now secure employment within a year.
He said the HEET Project aligns with the National Development Vision 2050, the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III), and the Digital Tanzania Agenda, underscoring President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to building a knowledge-based and industrial economy.
Prof Anangisye assured that UDSM will sustain the project’s achievements beyond its funding phase through strengthened partnerships, mainstreamed budgets, and innovation-based income generation.
“The HEET Project marks a new chapter in Tanzania’s higher education, advancing digital transformation, innovation, and industrial growth,” he said.
