UDSM seeks Harvard University’s partnership in the use of AI for research, and data analysis

DAR ES SALAAM: THE  University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has initiated strategic partnership discussions with Harvard University aimed at strengthening the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, research, and data analysis.

The talks were initiated by the Chancellor of UDSM and former President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, during his official visit to the United States.

The collaboration seeks to enhance institutional capacity in applying AI for teaching, accelerating academic research, and improving the processing of large datasets—an area of growing importance as universities globally increase investment in advanced technologies.

Within the broader context of digital transformation in higher education, UDSM’s engagement with Harvard signals a proactive strategy to position Tanzania within the ongoing technological shift, particularly in data-driven disciplines and advanced analytics.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr Kikwete emphasized the importance of responsible AI deployment, noting that the technology can significantly improve the quality of education and research if properly governed.

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On Harvard’s side, the discussions involved senior leadership and experts, including the Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, Professor Jeremy M. Weinstein, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for International Development (CID), Fatema Sumar.

An AI expert team from Harvard also participated, led by Professor Sharad Goel, alongside Dan Levy and Teddy Svoronos, all of whom bring substantial experience in applying AI to public policy and data analysis.

The discussions are expected to lead to a formalized collaboration between the two institutions, with Harvard committing to support capacity building at UDSM in AI applications.

This partnership is anticipated to mark a significant step forward for Tanzania’s higher education sector by integrating local expertise with global experience in emerging technologies.