Open University of Tanzania
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PROVIDING AFFORDABLE quality education through various distance-learning media is the main focus of this university. Established in 1992, the institution became operational a year later. Following re-accreditation in 2006, the current Open University of Tanzania Charter came into effect in 2007.Realising that important markets for its educational programmes are to be found in neighbouring African countries as well as in Tanzania itself, the university, which has its headquarters in Dar es Salaam, has established a total of 27 regional centres throughout the country (including Zanzibar), but significantly in towns close to Tanzania’s international borders.
Strategic regional centres exist in Arusha and Moshi in northern Tanzania to serve students in Kenya; in Mwanza and Kageya on the southern shores of Lake Victoria to serve students in Uganda; in Bukoba on the western shores of the lake to cater for students from Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda; in Mbeya in the southwest to cater for students from Zambia; and in Mtwara on the southeastern coast to attract students from northern Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands.
Currently, the majority of students still come from Tanzania, with a few hundred coming from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Congo. Courses are offered through the following faculties: Arts and Social Sciences; Education; Science, Technology and Environmental Studies; Law; Business Management; and through two institutes, one of Continuing Education and another devoted to Educational Technology.
Approximately 22 000 undergraduate students are currently enrolled, with 4 164 postgraduate students, the majority of whom are engaged in Masters programmes.
The delivery of programmes is via a variety of means: print media, telecasting, postal communication, and increasingly, thanks to funding and technical support from Sweden, via e-learning and other computer-based technologies. Each regional centre provides facilities for seminars, face-to-face contact programmes, mini-libraries, PC labs and student support.
Facts and Figures at a Glance1
Due to the nature of the Open University system, all 5,176 students are distance students, all of whom are from Tanzania. (actual data, 2006). These students are spread as follows:
Table 1: Open University of Tanzania - Summary of Enrolment Numbers (Actual data, 2006)
Number of students enrolled per level of study |
|||||
Major Field of Study |
Total Number of Students (Headcount) |
Under- graduate degree/ diploma | Post-graduate degree/ diploma | Masters Degree | Doctoral Degree |
| Science, Engineering & Technology | 416 | 415 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Business, Management & Law | 1,497 | 1,106 | 34 | 357 | 0 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 2,068 | 1,946 | 66 | 53 | 3 |
| Other (Institute of Continuing Education) | 1,195 | 1,195 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 5,176 | 4,662 | 100 | 411 | 3 |
Source: Open University of Tanzania questionnaire response
Table 2: Open University of Tanzania: Academic and Research staff (Actual data, 2007)
Major Field Of Study |
Total Number (headcount)
|
| Science, Engineering & Technology | 55 |
| Business, Management & Law | 42 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | 109 |
| TOTALS | 206 |
Source: Open University of Tanzania questionnaire response
[1] All data presented in this section is headcount data.
