France supports Samia’s bold initiative to promote science, technology

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan’s bold initiative to promote science and technology in the country has obtained a boost with some French universities conducting a daylong higher education fair on Tuesday.

Ambassador of France to Tanzania Mr Nabil Hajlaoui disclosed in Dar es Salaam, on Tuesday that the scientific exchange has attracted French universities, which are in the country to present about their programmes of excellency.

“The ultimate goal is to create more dialogue from universities in both countries to attain the goal that was set by leaders of the two countries.

“When President Samia Suluhu Hassan visited France last February, she met France President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in science and technology,” said Ambassador Hajlaoui.

He said that President Samia visited Station F, which is the largest startup incubator in the world, and expressed her commitment to consider the startup as a source of inspiration for Tanzania in replicating the experience to the country.

According to him, one of the possible ways to make the initiative a reality is through enhancing scientific cooperation, including today’s event.

He further noted that France is one of the major destinations of students in the world with a goal to attract half a million of them on a yearly basis by 2027.

“We are on the right track as this year we have reached 370,000 students globally, the majority coming from Africa and very few from Tanzania. This is why, we are happy to host these events and to explain the advantages and possibilities of enhancing the two countries’ scientific cooperation,” he noted.

Elaborating, he mentioned some levels of skills which young Tanzanians will obtain is the world class in the fields of technology and science as this year’s Nobel Prize winner was a French scientist.

The Ambassador pointed out that students who will study in France will be better placed to acquire skills and participate in the ecosystem, and later return to Tanzania to create their own international startups making them active participants in the development of their country.

For his part, the Marketing Manager of the African Unit at Campus France, Mr Matthieu Bragato, said the programmes in France are taught in English and French, noting that this occasion has hosted seven French universities.

He cited programmes in the area of agriculture, science, engineering, business, political science, international relations, French studies and PHD.

“The conference is also based on PHD studies, Erasmus Mundus opportunities and business studies…again studies and opportunities will discuss avenues in the same fields,” said Mr Bragato.