HEET project set for mid-term review, additional funding

THE five-year Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project is set for mid-term review, which may seek additional funding, according to national coordinator Dr Kennedy Hosea.

The project started in 2021 and was planned to be completed in 2026 at a cost of 425 million US dollar (about 1tri/-).

“We will soon conduct the mid-term review and possibly we will ask for getting additional funding,” Dr Hosea hinted over the weekend when speaking at the launching of the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) Industrial Advisory Committee under the HEET project.

The launching was officiated by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ms Amina Shaaban, on behalf of Minister for the portfolio, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba.

The TIA is one of the 23 higher learning institutions benefiting from the HEET project, funded by the World Bank.

The project aims to strengthen the learning environment and labour market alignment of priority programmes at beneficiary higher education institutions and improve the management of the higher education system.

It has three components, including strengthening the learning environments and labour market alignment of priority programmes, and strengthening the management of the higher education system.

In her speech, Deputy Permanent Secretary challenged the newly launched committee to effectively link the TIA with the sectoral stakeholders.

“I expect that the institute will initiate new programmes that would provide the graduate skills for job market,” Ms Shaaban said.

She said the HEET project will bring economic reforms to the higher learning institutions and the nation at large.

“The government recognises the importance of relations between the higher learning institutions and the industries, this is why it introduced the HEET project,” she argued.

Earlier, when welcoming the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Ministry of Finance Adv Said Chiguma, appealed to executives in two ministries of Finance and    that of Education and Science and Technology to ensure the TIA implements the project effectively.

He assured that the institute is gearing up for major reforms to become highly respected academic institute globally.

On his part, TIA Chief Executive Officer William Pallangyo said about 27.6bn/- has been allocated for the TIA to implement the HEET project for the five years.

The project involves, among others, repairing and constructing new buildings for the institutes, improve the curriculum, improving capacity of doing research and building capacity of academic staff.

Mr Simba Oyombe, HEET Project coordinator for TIA, reported that the institute is making substantial progress in implementing the project.

Mr Oyombe also highlighted that the HEET project has provided opportunities for three female lecturers to pursue postgraduate degrees, leadership training for top institute officials, and capacity building for TIA project coordinators in contractual matters.

Regarding infrastructure, Mr Oyombe mentioned that preliminary preparations have been completed for constructing hostels at the Singida and Mwanza Campuses, with construction expected to commence in early 2024.