EASY access to higher education is being expanded in various remote regionsby the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project.

Prof Bernard Mellau, vice chancellor for the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT) said at a press conference in Dar es Salaam at the weekend that the up and coming institution has received 102.5bn/- in funding to improve educational infrastructure.

He stated that 16bn/- will be used to construct six buildings at a new campus in Tabora, part of the government’s efforts to provide quality higher education in outlyin regions, while at the main campus in Butiama, construction on 16 buildings is underway, now 41 per cent complete. 

Previously, prospective students from areas like Mara, Kigoma or Katavi had to travel long distances to study in other regions but various campuses are set to expand learning opportunities in those regions, he said.

The HEET project will enable students from remote areas to access higher education closer to home, preparing them for career openings in new localised economic activities, he said.

Thre project is expected to redefine higher education by encouraging young people to enroll in local universities and preparing them for taking up openings closer to home, he stated,noting that the new university will accommodate 6,000 students by late 2025.

Upwards of 4,500 students will be studying at the main Butiama campus and an expected 1,500 others at the Tabora campus, he said, in remarks in the company of Prof. Peter Msofe, the ministerial director of Higher Education.

He explainedthat the HEET project is a $425m (1trn/-) investment across 23 institutions aimed at boosting enrollment and sparking economic transformation. 

“Where once there was just wilderness, we now see buildings. By next year, students will be studying here, a testament to the government’s commitment to using higher education as a catalyst for national development,” he said.

Silvester Francis, the resident engineer for the project, noted that construction began in November 2023 and is expected to finish by May 2025. The first phase includes seven buildings costing 20.5bn/-, with an additional four buildings in the second phase costing 16.9bn/-.

Prof Roberta Malee, the World Bank team leader, commended the speed and quality of the construction, pointing at the commitment to enhancing overall higher education infrastructure. 

Mkaiga Kaboko, the HEET project co-leader, described the project as a major driver of economic growth as it produces professionals and generates jobs while strengthening research capabilities.

“The HEET project provides new hope for Tanzanians, especially young people in remote regions, by establishing a solid foundation for education and economic development, preparing communities for sustainable growth,” he added.