March 1st-31st,
2015
News The
Flash
Open University of Tanzania
The Chairperson of the OUT Council Prof. Samwel Wangwe giving his speech during the 28th Graduation Ceremony
in Kibungo, Rwanda.
OUT conducts its 28th Graduation Ceremony
and the first of its kind in Rwanda
T
he Open University of Tanzania has conducted its
28th graduation ceremony in Kibungo Coordination
Centre, Ngoma District, Rwanda on Friday 20th March,
where 24 Rwandese (20 Males and 4 Females) were
conferred their Masters Degrees in various disciplines,
and one Tanzanian was conferred her degree in absentia.
The Guest of Honour to the ceremony was the Ministre
for Education in the republic of Rwanda Prof. Silas
Lwakabamba, who was represented by Dr. Innocent
Mugisha, Director of Highe Education Council.
Others in attendance were Tanzanian High Commissioner
in Rwanda Hon. Ali Siwa, Director of Higher Education at
the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Prof.
Sylvia Temu, Chairman of the OUT Council Prof. Samwel
Wangwe, Governor of the North-eastern Province where
the OUT Centre is located, Hon. Uwamariya Odette,
CEOs of various institutions of higher education in
Rwanda, representatives of various Governmental
and non-Governmental organization in Rwanda and
representatives from the media.
The 28th graduation follows the 26th one that took place
at the University’s permanent headquarters in Bungo,
Kibaha in November 2014 where 3,404 graduands
including 2,003 (58.8%) males and 1,401 (41.2%) females
received their awards. The 27th graduation took place
in January 2015 in Dodoma when for the first time OUT
hosted a graduation ceremony in its Regional Centre. The
Dodoma graduation included 3 other regions of Singida,
Manyara and Tabora and 762 Graduands, 458 males
(60.1%) and 304 females (39.9%) were conferred their
awards.
“Establishment of the OUT Centre in Rwanda is one of
the fruits of the East African Community. Specifically,
the Inter-University for East Africa has contributed
to developing quality assurance processes in order to
ensure that teaching and research meet international
standards, assisting universities in improving their
management, human resources capacity building and
offering equal opportunities to students in the whole
East Africa. Consequently, I urge the Open University of
Tanzania to continue working with other institutions in
this framework of enhancing quality education for the
benefits of our citizens.” Said Dr. Mugisha.
The total number of graduands in the three consecutive
graduation ceremonies is therefore 4,191, with 2,481
(59.2%) males and 1,710 (40.8%) females, and the
cumulative number of OUT graduates (1999 – 2014)
reached 22,290 and include citizens of more than 23
nationalities.
The Kibungo Coordination Centre in Rwanda was
established in October 2012, and the first batch of
students was admitted in 2013.The twenty eighth (28)
graduation ceremony, which is the first for Kibungo
Centre, was therefore arranged specifically to allow the
citizens of Rwanda to participate in this special event
and to give them an opportunity to learn more about
the Open University of Tanzania, including the available
opportunities at the University.
“OUT, through Kibungo Coordination Centre has
become one of the Rwandan higher learning institutions,
Tanzanian Citizens (staff, students) have been treated like
their fellow Rwandan citizens, and education services
delivered by the University have been accredited in
Rwanda.” Said Mrs. Uwamariya Odette.
1
T
he Executive Committee of the
International Council for Open and
Distance Education (ICDE) has formerly
appointed Professor Tolly S.A Mbwette as an
Honorary ICDE Chair in Open Educational
Resources (OER) for a period of four years
beginning from April 2015.
In the appointment letter addressed to
the OUT Chancellor Hon. Dr. Asha-Rose
Migiro, the ICDE Secretary General Dr.
Gard Titlestad expressed his appreciations
for the new appointment “I would like to
thank you for your commitment and support
in nominating Prof. Tolly S.A. Mbwette to
be an ICDE Chair in OER, and to further
reinforce his position as an ambassador for
Open Educational Resources and the Open
University of Tanzania. We look forward to a
long and fruitful mutual collaboration” said
part of the letter.
Professor Mbwette will join the ICDE Chairs’
Network which comprises highly recognized
authorities in the field of OER including:
• Dr. Rory McGreal, UNESCO-COL Chair
in OER from Athabasca University,
Canada.
• Dr. Fred Mulder, UNESCO Chair in
OER (former Rector of Open Universiteit
Nederland from 2000-2010) in the
Netherlands.
• Dr. Wayne Mackintosh, UNESCO-COL
Chair in OER, founding Director Otago
Polytechnic, New Zealand.
• Dr. María Soledad Ramirez Montoya
from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico.
Dr. Martin Weller from the Open University
in the United Kingdom.
We wish to take this opportunity, on behalf
of the OUT Community, to congratulate Prof.
Mbwette on his appointment.
Prof Tolly Mbwette
The OUT Vice Chancellor Prof T. Mbwette and the MUHAS DVC for
Academic, Research and Consultancy Prof. E. Lyamuya cutting a tape
to signify launching of the MPH programme
OUT/MUHAS launch
a collaborative MPH
programme
T
he Open University of Tanzania in Collaboration with the Muhimbili
University College of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)
has launched a joint Master of Public Health (MPH) programme by
distance learning.
The programme which will be hosted at the School of Public Health and
Social Sciences at MUHAS and at the Faculty of Science, Technology
and Environmental Studies at OUT, aims to provide opportunities to
in-service personal who cannot enroll for the regular full-time MPH
programme.
The launching ceremony was hosted at the MUHAS Council Chamber
and was attended by the Vice Chancellors of both Universities, Deputy
Vice Chancellors responsible for Academics, Deans, Directors and
Heads of Departments from both institutions and members of the
press.
The programme will be admissible to graduates from any recognized
University in all health related fields of study. The core courses will
include Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Management, Planning
and Policy, Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health,
Strategic Planning for Behavior Change Interventions and Research
Methods.
This launching is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding
signed between OUT and MUHAS in December 2011 with the aim of
collaborating in different fields of common interest. “Collaboration is
an emerging culture that is becoming increasingly important in the
modern world. OUT is a good believer of this and wherever possible
it has been exploiting this opportunity for the mutual benefits of either
parts” said the Vice Chancellor Professor Tolly Mbwette.
2
OUT launches ‘GO-GN OUT Chapter’
G
O-GN is an abbreviation for Global
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Graduate Network. It is an initiative
by the UNESCO Chair in OER based at
the Open University of Netherland. In
recognizing the increasing phenomena of
OERs integration in higher education and
their critical role in enhancing delivery
of education in ODL, OUT became one
among the first founding members of GOGN.
As a way to express commitment and the
desire to mainstream OER and MOOCs in
education, OUT has recently formulated
and launched a “GO-GN OUT Chapter”
which constitutes lecturers and (Master
and Doctoral) students from within OUT
who are interested to engage in research in
the area of OER and MOOCs. The GO-GN
OUT Chapter was formerly launched on
Monday 23rd March, 2015.
The objectives of “GO-GN OUT Chapter”
are to develop and explore new knowledge
in the area of OER and MOOCs linked
to a variety of disciplines and to provide
social foundation for the introduction
and implementation of OER and MOOCs
innovations in education. Other objectives
are to monitor and evaluate the impact
of OER and MOOCs in education and to
increase evidence and guidance for OER
and MOOCs practices in the University.
There are a number of benefits that
GO-GN members enjoy which includ
opportunity to attend Open Education
Conferences and Seminars and possibilities
of fellowship and grants for both lecturers
and students. Other benefits include joint
supervision of students and co-publication
opportunities in scientific journals and
engage in discussion with colleagues from
different parts of the world in the area of
OER.
Dr. Kassimu A. Nihuka
Director, ACDE-TCC &
Coordinator, GO-GN OUT
When launching the “GO-GN OUT
Chapter” the President , Pan African
University Council; Immediate Past
President, ACDE; Chairperson, ACDETCC and Vice Chancellor, OUT, Prof.
Tolly S.A. Mbwette encouraged more OUT
academicians and students from OUT
and colleagues from other universities in
Tanzania to also join the chapter.
OUT hosts ACDE Quality Assurance Policy Development Workshop
T
he African Council for Distance
Education Centre for Technical
Committee on Collaboration
(ACDE-TCC), which is hosted at
the Open University of Tanzania,
organized a two days workshop to
develop ACDE Quality Assurance
Policy.
Prof. Israel Folorunso Adu, the
Director for Quality Assurance and
Accreditation Agency (QAAA) of
the African Council for Distance
Education (ACDE) based at the
National Open University of
Nigeria (NOUN), was the workshop
facilitator.
transfer between ACDE member
universities in Africa.Furthermore,
once in place the Policy will set a
common reference point for ACDE
member Universities’ efforts in
enhancing quality of ODL education
delivery and further collaboration
amongst ACDE members.
The workshop which was
conducted on March 6 and 7 at
the Regency Park Hotel in Dar
es Salaam, was graced by the
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tolly S.A.
Mbwette and involved participants
from Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and
Nigeria.
The Policy on Quality Assurance
being developed is an attempt at
continental level to harmonize the
quality and standards of education
delivered by Open and Distance
Learning (ODL) universities in
Africa which will in turn facilitate
students’ mobility and credits
It is expected that once developed;
ODL institutions will make efforts
to mainstream some of the critical
Quality Assurance issues and
standards suggested in the ACDE
Quality Assurance Policy including
review of their respective Quality
Assurance Policies.
Participants of the ACDE Quality Assurance Policy Development Workshop held at Regency Park Hotel in D’Salaam.
3
Iringa Regional Centre HIV/AIDS Club supports the community
T
he Iringa Regional Centre HIV/
AIDS Club (IRCHAC) offered
some support to the community
of vulnerable children and people
living with HIV/AIDS in the Region.
The club donated three bags of
sugar, four cartons of salt, 40 litres of
cooking oil and 20 bags of maize flour
with a total value of TShs 1,000,000 to
the Huduma ya Mtoto Center in Ilula,
which is owned by Pentecostal Church
in collaboration with Compassion
International, caring for 252 children,
and to a community of 55 old people
at Alamano Centre who also care for
orphans living with HIV/AIDS.
The club decided to offer the support
after
witnessing
impacts
and
challenges of HIV/AIDS to the local
community during their research
study. In early April 2014 IRCHAC
was involved in “Situational Analysis
of Treatment and Support Services for
Staff of OUT Iringa and members of IRCHAC giving donated items to children
of Huduma ya Mtoto Centre in Ilula
HIV Infected People with Disabilities
(PWDs) in Iringa Region” a project
which was conducted in collaboration
with the OUT head office in Dar es
Salaam.
After the “Situational Analysis”
study, the club decided to use funds
which remained from the project to
assist people living with HIV/AIDS in
the community.
VC of the Zambian Open University visits OUT
T
he Vice Chancellor of the
Zambian Open university Prof.
Mutale M. Musonda accompanied
by the Director of ICT, Mr.
Abraham Nyirongo visited OUT
from 9th to 10th March 2015.
between OUT and ZAOU where
the two institutions will collaborate
in various areas associated with
development and delivery of open
and distance learning programmes,
ICT, research, publications and
staff exchange. Furthermore, the
sister Universities will collaborate
in organizing continuing education
programmes.
During their visit, Prof. Musonda
and his colleague had an opportunity
of visiting various OUT facilities
including Regional Centres in Dar
es Salaam. He also presented a brief
profile of his University, explaining
that it was established in 2002 and
started operations in 2005. Currently
the University has 10 Regional
Offices and a students’ population of
5300.
Prof. Musonda was highly impressed
by OUT’s achievements, “I wish
to acknowledge the remarkable
achievements OUT has registered.
Specifically, I wish to the University
for producing a President of PANAfrican University” said Prof.
Musonda.
The visit was concluded by signing
of a Memorandum of Understanding
The OUT Vice Chancellor Prof. Tolly Mbwette and the ZAOU Vice Chancellor
Prof. Mutale Musonda signing a Memorandum of Understanding between
the two Universities
4
FSTES organizes a public lecture
T
he Faculty of Science,
Technology and
Environmental Studies
organized a Public Lecture
on Aircraft Accidents and
Incidents Investigations.
The lecture was delivered by
Eng. Mohamed Hamdy from
Egyptian Civil Aviation and
gathered participants from
OUT, the National Institute
of Transportation, Tanzania
Airports Authorities and other
stakeholders.
Eng. Mohamed Hamdy
Participants of the lecture
got an opportunity to learn
interesting information such as
the protocols and technicalities
of investigating aircraft
accidents and incidents in
accordance to the international
standards and recommended
practices described by the
International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO).
“It is important to mention
here that air transport is the
safest means of transport so
far, with a relatively lowest
record of accidents. But when
an accident occurs, the sole
objective of investigation is
for prevention of accidents
and incidents and not for the
purpose to apportion blame
or liability” explained Eng.
Hamdy.