HEET project brings major transformation to DUCE

The Principal of Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), Prof. Stephen Maluka, has commended the Sixth Phase Government led by Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for its efforts of improving the college’s infrastructure. 

He stated that through the HEET Project, the government is constructing two large buildings: the Postgraduate Studies Building and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Building.

Speaking to journalists recently at DUCE, Prof. Maluka said the government has allocated eight million US dollars (equivalent to 19 billion Tanzanian shillings) to the college. He further said project has brought largest amount ever allocated by the government for DUCE’s development projects since its establishment in 2005. Emphasizing this point, Prof. Maluka said:

“The HEET Project is the largest investment ever made by the government to improve teaching and learning infrastructure since the college was founded. This demonstrates the strong commitment of the Sixth Phase Government to improving education. We will ensure that the goals of this project are achieved and that the college becomes a model for the successful management of development projects.”

He explained that the Postgraduate Studies Building will enable the college to expand its capacity for scientific research due to the inclusion of modern science laboratories. In addition, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Building will include special rooms for the Special Education Unit. Among other features, it will also have small lecture rooms and staff offices.

Another achievement of the project is the enhancement of the college library. Through HEET Project, DUCE has established a digital library that allows users to access library services remotely without needing to physically visit the library. This ensures that library services are available at all times, even when the library building is closed. 

According to Prof. Maluka, the college has so far managed to purchase various ICT equipment, installed and upgraded several ICT systems. Among these is the online registry system (e-registry), whose installation has been completed and is now in operational. The use of this system has improved service delivery and reduced paper usage. The college has also increased its internet bandwidth from 200 Mbps to 600 Mbps, greatly enhancing connection speed. Furthermore, the internal network infrastructure has been upgraded, improving internet distribution across various buildings. Lecturers have also received training on digital teaching methods and the use of online learning platforms.

The Deputy Principal for Academic, Research, and Consultancy, Prof. Amani Lusekelo, said that the Sixth Phase Government has enabled 16 academic staff members to pursue Master’s and PhD degrees at the reputable universities worldwide. These include the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), Bielefeld University (Germany), Brunel University (UK), University of Victoria (Canada), University of York (UK), University of Zululand (South Africa), and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany). Some of these staff members have already returned and are applying the knowledge gained to improve teaching at DUCE.

Additionally, he noted that HEET has strengthened the capacity of college staff to conduct research that directly addresses the challenges faced by Tanzanian society and ensures that research findings reach end-users.

The Deputy Principal for Planning, Finance, and Administration, Prof. Pendo Malangwa, highlighted other achievements of the HEET Project, including the improvement of infrastructure, particularly the procurement of computers, chairs, and tables for lecture rooms and student hostels.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joel Kayombo, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, confirmed that HEET has facilitated curriculum improvement to align with labor market needs. Lecturers received training on curriculum development and review. To support this process, the college conducted a tracer study to assess programme effectiveness and determine how well the curricula respond to market and employment demands.