The United Republic of Tanzania has received funds from the World Bank under the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET- P166415) Project that will be implemented for five years (2021-2026). The Project is implemented under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST). The overall project development objective is to strengthen the learning environments and labour market orientation of programmes in priority disciplines of the Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs). The project is aligned to contribute to Tanzania’s National Five-Year Development Plan III (2021/22-2025/26) and the realisation of the National Development Vision (2025) through the provision of quality education services.
The project will benefit several HLIs including Moshi Co-operative University (MoCU). The University has been allocated US$ 8 Million for various education advancement activities that will rapidly transform the Kizumbi Institute of Co-operative and Business Education (KICoB) in Shinyanga Region, and the Moshi Campus in Kilimanjaro Region. The approved budget will finance: the construction of new infrastructure (academic complex and students’ hostel at KICoB, and academic building at Moshi); rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at Moshi; upgrading learning resources and equipment; updating curriculum and introduction of innovative pedagogical methodologies; promoting applied research and innovation capacity, as well as building functional linkages with the private sector/industry. Other areas to be financed include the development of online learning platforms and digital technology applications; the establishment of state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure; the promotion of self-generated income, and; capacity building for academic staff and University leadership.
These interventions will improve the University’s teaching and learning facilities to meet the ever-increasing demand for programmes and services offered. The interventions will also adequately address the dynamics of the industry as well as changes in policies, laws and regulations including the adaptations required during global public health pandemics that are of cross border nature. The most significant change will be to make graduates more responsive to labour market demands.