Samia scholarship expanded in TZ-Ireland deal

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and Ireland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding opportunities for Tanzanian youths with advanced skills in emerging technologies through the Samia Scholarship extended programmes in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and related fields.

The MoU was signed on Thursday between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the University of Limerick, Ireland, at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, said that currently 32 Tanzanian students are enrolled at the University of Limerick with tuition fee waivers, supported significantly by the government.

Prof Mkenda said the partnership is designed to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy and empower young people through quality education and international exposure.

“We expect this MoU to expand opportunities, promote Tanzanian youth, strengthen joint research areas such as Artificial Intelligence, facilitate academic exchanges, and contribute to sustainable development,” Prof Mkenda said.

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He noted that the partnership aligns with Tanzania’s mission to develop a highly skilled workforce and position the country strategically for future academic partnership. Prof Mkenda also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the partnership, urging stakeholders to collaborate in translating the agreement into tangible outcomes.

For her part, Ireland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Nicola Brennan, urged Tanzania to invest heavily in quality education to equip young people with skills needed not only to secure employment but also to create new jobs, as the country’s population is expected to double by 2050.

She encouraged Tanzania to focus on human capital development, similar to Ireland’s approach, expressing confidence that with the right investments and strategies, the country could compete effectively in the global digital economy.

Ambassador Brennan highlighted Ireland’s economic success, attributing it to significant investments in education, noting that the country’s workforce has attracted substantial foreign direct investment from multinational companies.

Meanwhile, Vice-President for Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick, Professor Colin Fitzpatrick, said the scholarship is designed to attract outstanding and talented students.

Prof Fitzpatrick highlighted the university’s close ties with industry, offering students up to nine-month fully paid internships, which can be with major American multinationals or dynamic Irish startups. He further emphasised that the university aims to foster a global campus environment with students from around the world, including Tanzania.