University of Dodoma:Embracing knowledge for country’s development

 HIGHER education has been shown to provide fundamentals for economic development. This is because, currently most technologically advanced economies are knowledge–based and they create millions of knowledge related jobs as compared to cheap labour and natural resources.

Unfortunately, there are very few universities in Tanzania and the university going-age rate for Tanzania is lowest in the region. Similarly student enrolment into the existing universities is still low not exceeding 50 per cent of all qualifying candidates from ALevel education get admission into universities.

Therefore, the Government decided to establish a new and modern university in Dodoma known as The University of Dodoma (UDOM). UDOM is designed to be a comprehensive university, which will train and produce human capital in the major professions for economic development. It is expected to enrol 40,000 students when fully operational.

UDOM is located at Chimwaga area about eight kilometres East of Dodoma town centre. The University is within

Dodoma district and it covers an area of about 15,000 acres which is approximately 6,000 hectares. The site has a very prominent view as it is situated in high hilly area. As an institution of higher learning offering comprehensive education
UDOM has diversified academic programmes geared towards the realization of national strategic goals that are guided by the country’s sector policies and operates on college mode.The library has about 56,000 books and the shortage for the moment is supplemented by provision of Internet services. The connectivity enables students and lecturers to access more that two million websites. The service is expected to improve once it’s connected to national fibre optic cable. For those who frequently travelling to the capital city of

Dodoma will testify how it becomes difficult to get accommodation whenever the Bunge Session is
on.But the establishment of the University of Dodoma (UDOM) few years ago is yet another challenge that analyst say, ‘has come with a lessing. Although the institution is located a bit distant from the Central Business District (CBD) its impact can be felt all over the area. Not only UDOM, but also the number of enrolment in other higher learning institutions in the area is going up every year.Even the natives who once never bothered about newcomers, they are now aware of it and some are already taking this to their advantage. The establishment of tertiary institutions such as UDOM has encouraged more students’ enrolment and increase of staff. This
has contributed significantly to the expansion of the town and hence escalating the need for more social services such as water. When UDOM was established in 2007, it enrolled 1300 students, today, hardly three years later, it has about 15,000 students.And according to the Regional Commissioner Dr James Msekela, once the university is fully operational, it will have about 150,000 people (students, staff, other workers and the likes). Its water consumption as of now is 12,000 cubic metres a day, according to the water utility boss, and one can just predict what will happen once it’s fully operational. Some students who
spoke on conditions of anonymity, say sanitation is still a challenge especially at the college of social science.

“Here at the college of education, we get water in portions and there is no dump for all the waste coming from here. And the trenches were dug where food is provided”, another laments. Beatrice Mtenga from the public relations office responds to water issues by saying that the existing water pumping system from DUWASA sources to the University’s reservoirs at Chimwaga hill is done once a day, the entire system needs daily pumping. “The University has a complete distribution network which comprises different sizes of galvanized pipes and PVC connected to five tanks with a total capacity of 2,500,000 litres”.

There is no doubt that the opening of UDOM has triggered massive influx of people to the town and in the way making provision of other services challenging. Banking for example has become a menace to not only to students but everybody who needs the service. Once you move around the town you will notice long queues both waiting to enter ATM booths and inside the banks.

“There was a day I went to the ATM machine to get some little money for my daily expenses. I remember to have lined up for five hours before I got it. Since then I don’t go to the machine during daytime, I go in the evening when most people have gone back home”, says a College of Business Education (CBE) student. A UDOM student complained that transport was
becoming tricky. He says if for example there is a boycott of daladalas, one has to take a taxi for about 10,000/- to 17,000/- to the two campuses up the hill.

“Even when one is sick, it takes time for the ambulance to get here”. Despite these challenges UDOM is destined to become one of the largest Universities in East and

Central Africa, in terms of infrastructure and accompanying facilities. So far UDOM has 155 houses at Kisasa which accommodate staff of different cadres. The University has a staff housing project in pipe line Construction of central administration block is at final stage. After completion it will house not less than two hundred (200) staff.Along with construction of teaching facilities the University is also constructing a “Ring road
“with a total of 30km. The ring road will be a major link to all six colleges, and the project is at final stage. Part of the ring road (road to Dr. Asha Rose-Migiro Research Centre) has street lights in place already and the plan is to have this facility for the whole length of the road when completed With the institution expanding so fast, there is no doubt that this is a wake up call for serious investors in the real estate sector, shopping malls and recreational
centres like.

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