VP stresses problems solving skills, research

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Philip Mpango has directed the National Defence College Tanzania (NDC) to integrate problem- solving skills and research on various programmes offered by the institution.

The VP also commended NDC for strengthening the country’s international cooperation by enrolling students from various countries.

Dr Mpango made the call yesterday during the National Defence College Tanzania 11^th graduation ceremony held in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Mpango urged the college administration to maintain high academic standards to meet the national, regional and international expectations which is to produce high calibre staff serving in security and defense organs, as well as graduates equipped with relevant skills to address the 21 century’s security challenges like radicalisation and money laundering.

“For the NDC to continue living up to its mandate I wish to propose that it needs to subsequently put more weight on among others, problem solving and result-oriented research in order to be able  to address contemporary global threats relating to youth unemployment, drug abuse, economic warfare and climate change ” Dr Mpango said.

Dr Mpango further said he is aware that since the NDC commenced its operations it has opened up its doors to senior officers from the defence forces of the East Africa Community and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states as well as Bangladesh, Egypt and Nigeria among others.

He said foreign graduates will serve as goodwill ambassadors by giving testimonies about Tanzania’s beauty when they go back to their home countries.

Giving an example, Dr Mpango said upon returning home, foreign graduates will market Tanzania’s tourist attractions like the Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorogoro Conservation Area, Kiswahili Language and the country’s political stability.

Dr Mpango said that the college has been functioning as an effective institution for not only fostering partnership among the course participants but also cementing bilateral cooperation.

Furthermore, he called upon college alumni residing within the country and   foreigners to share testimonials on the potential of the college wherever they are, saying the practice will also help to popularise NDC, making it a hub for security training in Africa.

He also urged the college administration to come up with a strategy that will allow many women to join the college, given the fact that only two of them graduated yesterday.

Earlier, Commandant of the NDC, Major General, Ibrahim Mhona briefing the VP, said the college has been providing first-hand experience via domestic field training and study tour in different security organs in the country.

Moreover, he explained that this year graduates undertook study tours in five countries in Africa including Angola, Namibia and Kenya and beyond Africa   such as Vietnam, Singapore and India just to make students enriched with global perspectives and experience.