THE UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA

As we sail fast into our yet another new academic year, we welcome our new and continuing students. We also extend our very warm welcome to our new staff, both academic and administrative.

We also sincerely welcome all our stakeholders (old and new) who shall be providing different kinds of services to the University of Dodoma (UDOM). It is my most sincere hope that we shall maintain the tempo that we started off with way back in February 2007. It sounds far but feels like it is yesterday. We have grown tremendously since then. This growth brings with it some challenges. We have confronted these challenges before and I hope we can face these challenges together even more forcefully and emerge as winners at the end of the day.

As I mentioned last year, our second year of our existence as UDOM saw the establishment of the Colleges of Humanities and Social  Sciences, Informatics and Virtual Education and the College of Education. We also established the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics that was meant to provide the nucleus for the establishment of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Last academic year, the Schools of Medicine and Nursing and Mines and Petroleum were established as prospective colleges. We planned that these schools will provide the nucleus for the establishment of the Colleges of Health and Allied Sciences and Earth Sciences, respectively. This has  happened this year. In July this year, the three Schools were elevated to full Colleges. In so doing the original plan of UDOM of having six Colleges in place has been accomplished. The formation of the six Colleges has gone along with the envisaged decentralization of the University administration. Except for some cross –cutting matters, the basic administrative matters are being handled at the College level. This is a calculated move to finally give the colleges a semi-autonomous status as stipulated in the University Charter. It should be  appreciated that the progressive decentralization is meant to build administrative capacities of the Colleges.

We started off with 1,200 students in 2007/2008. In 2008/2009 we had about 7,000 students. In 2009/2010 we had about 15,000 students. Last academic year we had about 20,000 students. We have agreed with the Government to maintain this student population for at least a couple of years while ensuring that the infrastructure (mainly water supply) and teaching staff are adequate to cope with the increased population. This is a calculated move to ensure that the quality of our graduates is not jeopardized. The University is designed to have 40,000 when it becomes fully operational.

We started with 3 staff in 2007 (The Vice- Chancellor and the two deputies) and we now have about 600 Academic and 450 Administrative staff). Over the coming subsequent years, we hope to progressively move to the target figures of the projected student enrolment and staff recruitment.

Getting where we are today has been an uphill struggle. But through commitment and hard work by all staff (academic and administrative) it has been possible to reach here. I do not tire to continue sincerely thank my two Deputies, i.e. Profs. Ludovick D. B. Kinabo and Shaaban A. K. Mlacha. The DVC-ARC and DVC-PFA respectively. We have and we shall continue to work very closely until we accomplish our mission as expected by us, by the Government and all Tanzanians. Through collegial and very open discussions we have been able to build not only the infrastructure but the different systems as well. The latter bit is even more daunting.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank Prof. C. Rubagumya - the Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Nerey Mvungi, Principal College of Informatics and Virtual Education, Prof. Kalafunja Osaki, former Principal of the College of Education. I also sincerely thank and appreciate very much the diligence demonstrated by all the Deans of the Prospective Colleges, Prof. Gesase, Prof. Ntalikwa and Dr. John Makangara and Prof. Joshua Madumulla, Prof. Davis Mwamfupe, Dr. T. Bali, and Dr. Swai for their diligence. Dr. Ame (Director of Post Graduate Studies), Dr. Tenge (Director of Research and Publications), Dr. Rex Kidyalla (Director of Library Services), Directors and Heads of Departments. Without all these people and many others I have not mentioned, it would not have been possible to get the University where we are today.

All academic and administrative staff have continued to play their very important roles. I thank all of them. Let me specifically mention the Secretary to Council, Bursar, Chief Supplies Officer, Chief Internal Auditor, Estates Manager the Inspectors of Works, the Deans of Students, Public Relations Officer, Director of Human Resources, Admission Officer, my Personal Assistant and Secretary and all staff for their very important role in shaping up our University. The role played by all staff even those not mentioned above is greatly appreciated.

We continue to appreciate the heroic role played by NSSF, PSPF, PPF, LAPF, The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) National Housing Cooperation, without whose dedication in the infrastructural development, the University of Dodoma would have remained a one building University in Chimwaga Building. But all these developments would not have been realized without the commitment of the Fourth Phase Government under H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. The University is his brain child. I would like history to remain what it is for many years to come. The Government’s continued interest and commitment in the University of Dodoma has continually injected new energy in the development and operations of the “new baby”. The “baby is growing fast and quite soon it shall start walking. I also sincerely thank DUWASA, TANESCO and all the service providers. The Tanzania Police Force has done a commendable job of guarding the public property and ensuring security and peace at the University of Dodoma.

I thus, on behalf of management and all staff of the University of Dodoma, extend our arms to welcome our continuing and new students to the University. I expected the students to realize that they are the Tanzania of today but leaders of tomorrow. As we, the older generation, retreat to our retirements, the future of this country will be placed in today’s young people’s hands. Our role as we stand is to prepare and shape these hands. We expect them to also nurture our beloved country and hand it over to future generations better than we left it to them. Diligence and integrity shall make all this possible.

The handing over of the mantle of leadership is best done when those involved are well informed. It is expected therefore that our students shall use well their time here at this University so that they leave as well informed citizens of this special country.

While at the University, students should cherish our motto “we shall solve our problems through dialogue”. This is an inspiring motto that has worked during the last three years and I hope and expect it to continue inspiring the University community for many years to come.

Unfortunately the motto has not worked to the expectations during the last academic year. From December 2010 to almost June 2011 The University went through unprecedented confusion that eventually led to closure of the College of Informatics and Virtue Education and Humanities and Social Sciences. I still believe that some genuine dialogue among ourselves should have prevented what happened. I sincerely hope and expect that those who are serious with academics should be given that opportunity. Those who are not should not be left to create disharmony in the University.