February 1st-29th,

2016

News The
Flash
Open University of Tanzania

FBM establishes a new

Academic Journal
T

he Faculty of Business Management at the

Open University of Tanzania has the pleasure
to present a new academic Journal - The PanAfrican Journal of Business Management
(PAJBM). The Journal will contain peer reviewed
solicited and unsolicited academic articles
presenting research done in the business field in
countries in Africa. If you have any questions,
please send them to the Chief Editor Prof. JanErik Jaensson, Email: pajbm@out.ac.tz
You could also join our FB-page to get news:
www.facebook.com/OUTpajbm
Our homepage contain instructions for authors
and other useful information: www.out.pajbm.
ac.tz

OCB conducts training on Research Methodology

T
he OUT Consultancy Bureau (OCB) organized a five
days training workshop on research methodology,
between 15th and 19th February.

The training was facilitated by Prof. Yonhyok Choe

from the Goteborg University in Sweden, Prof. Adolphe
Lawson from the Soderton University in Sweden and
Prof. Deus Ngaruko from the Faculty of Arts and Social
Sciences of the Open University of Tanzania. Thirty
participants were trained, among whom fourteen were
from OUT and sixteen came from other institutions.
The Acting Director of OCB Dr. Emmanuel Mallya,
who coordinated the training, said that OCB prepared
the programme to enable participants from within
and outside the University to get necessary skills and
techniques that are important in the analysis of social
phenomena. He expressed the determination of his
Directorate to contribute in building the capacity of
various professionals in different areas of expertise.
The DVC for Learning Technologies and Regional Services
Prof. Modest Varisanga, who was representing the VC
during the opening session, encouraged participants to
utilize the opportunity to enhance their research skills. In
his remarks, he urged participants to use the opportunity
to obtain skills that will enable them to do different kinds
of research studies properly. He assimilated research
skills with driving a car; saying that anybody is required
to have a driving license to be recognized as a driver,
likewise, researchers need the necessary skills to be able
to deliver in various research assignments.

The Acting Director of OCB Dr. Emmanuel Mallya

together with the training facilitators, Prof. Yonhyok
Choe from Goteborg University, Sweden (centre) and
Prof. Adolphe Lawson from Soderton University,
Sweden.

The workshop facilitator Dr. Piergiuseppe Fortunato of UNCTAD (centre, seated) together with the trainees after
receiving their certificates, 25th February 2016.

FBM hosts the National Workshop on Structural

Transformation and Industrial Policy
The Faculty of Business Management (FBM)
at OUT organized a three days workshop on
Structural Transformation and Industrial
Policy from 23rd to 25th February.
The workshop, which was conducted in
collaboration with the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), was
coordinated by FBM staff Mr. France Shayo and
Ms. Akinyi Sassi. UNCTAD was represented
by Dr. Piergiuseppe Fortunato who was the
workshop facilitator. The UNCTAD virtual
institute facilitated the workshop in its efforts
to strengthen research capacities in developing
countries.
The acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic
Prof. Cornelia Muganda was the Guest of Honour
during the opening session and also issued
certificates to the participants on the closing day.
A total of 32 participants from various Ministries,
Institutions and Organizations in the country
participated in the workshop. Participants came
from OUT, the Ministry of Industry and Trade,
University of Dar es Salaam, Ardhi University,
National Institute of Transportation, Centre for

Foreign Relations, the Ministry of Livestock and

Fisheries Development, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Regional and International Cooperation,
Mzinga Corporation and the East Africa Research
Capacity Development Foundation.
The objective of the workshop was to provide
an overview of the process of structural
transformation and its linkages with development,
and to equip participants with knowledge of the
key policies that could accelerate the gradual
transformation of the economic structure of
developing economies.
Issues covered during the training were,
structural transformation, industrial policy and
economic development, growth diagnostics,
industrial policy in open economy strategic trade
integration, Regional/South-South integration,
innovation policies, structural transformation
in Tanzania and economic transformation in
resource abundant economies.
Generally the workshop was successfully
conducted, with a good attendance. Participants
got a chance to network during a cocktail party
on the closing day.

DCM Marketing Officers launch a massive

marketing campaign for OUT programmes
M

arketing Officers at the Directorate of

Communications and Marketing (DCM) have
launched a massive campaign to market OUT
academic programmes around the Dar es Salaam
City. The campaign, which has so far been conducted
for two weeks (8th to 24th February), involved
visitations to various Ministries and Schools for
the purpose of advertising academic programmes
and creating awareness to staff and students on the
higher learning opportunities available at the OUT.
The marketing team had an objective of winning
groups of prospective clients, which are staff in the
public service in need of further education to meet
the global competence at the working environment,
and may not be aware of the OUT. A special focus
was given to teachers in both secondary and primary
schools together with their students, who comprise
a future clientele for the University. Primary school
teachers were specifically impressed by the Diploma
in Primary Teacher Education and a special campaign
is planned for this programme, which might involve
academic staff from the Institute of Continuing
Education for more insights. In a visit to Tambaza
Secondary School, the team was accompanied by
one Admission Officer Ms. Evelyne Shipela, who
gave details on the application procedures to various

undergraduate programmes at the University.

Visited Ministries included the Prime ministers
Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education
and Vocational Training, Ministry of Energy and
Minerals, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements
Development and the Ministry of Community
Development, Gender and Children. Other visited
institutions were the Tanzania Public Service College
and the Tanzania Prisons (TPS) Head Quarters.
A special campaign will be planned for the TPS to
reach staff and inmates in other regions prisons.
The marketing team specifically spoke with Human
Resources officers, convincing them to encourage
their staff to upgrade themselves by joining OUT,
where they can study while working. The team
shared information on various issues including
offered programmes, required qualifications for
the programmes, fees structures and students
support systems at OUT such as the e-learning.
They distributed programme brochures, handbooks,
newsletters and the OUT annual activities report
booklet. They also received different comments,
complaints, suggestions as well as advices on how to
improve our services.

Marketing Officer, Mr. Mwanuzi Babyegeya (left), speaking to teachers and students at Tambaza Secondary School
about OUT programmes in one of the marketing teams visits.

February University Examination session successfully conducted

he University Examination session of

February 2016 has been successfully
conducted, with 8,876 students sitting for
their Main Timed Test (MTT), Supplementary
Examinations (SUPP), and Special Annual
Examinations (S-AE) in 44 examination centres.
This is according to the Director of Examination
Syndicate (DES) Dr. Yohana Lawi.
The examination sessions, which took place
from 25th January to 12th February 2016, were
very well conducted in all examination centers
within and outside the country. According to
Dr. Lawi, this years sessions included two
new local centers of Geita and Serengeti. The
international centers involved were Qatar,
Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Kenya, USA and Zambia,
and for the first time NACTE students from
IEMT were involved in the examination
sessions.

A cross-section of students sitting for their examinations at the

Kinondoni Regional Center, 10th February, 2016.

Iringa Regional Centre conducts a ceremony to congratulate its graduates

he
Iringa
Regional
Centre
once again held a ceremony
to congratulate its members who
graduated from various programmes
in the academic year 2014/15.
The ceremony, which was held at
the centres premises, is used as
a marketing strategy to promote
OUT around the region, and also
as a motivation tool for continuing
students. One hundred and nine
(109) students registered at the
Iringa Regional Centre graduated
from various degree and non-degree
programme in the academic year
2014/15.
The Guest of Honour during the
ceremony was the District Educational
Officer, who was represented by
one of his officers, Mr. Stephen
Luhambati. Giving his remarks, the
DEO insisted on the importance of
open and distance learning to both
public and private workers, following
the ceremony theme ODL for
Professional Development of Public
Servants. The Guest of Honour also
called upon OUT to reach out to
more people and market its academic
programmes in order to attract more
people around Iringa Region to join.

Mr. Abdalah Omary, one of the

graduands.
The Director of Iringa Regional
Centre Rev. Dr. Lechion Peter
Kimilike also emphasized self
discipline as a cornerstone to success

in open and distance learning. He also

wished success to the new graduates
and called upon them to be good
ambassadors of OUT. This is the
second time that the centre holds such
a ceremony, following a similar one
last academic year.

Graduands of the OUT Iringa Regional Centre marching around Iringa Town
before a ceremony to congratulate them.

During the ceremony, the graduands

had an opportunity to share their
success stories. ODL requires self
discipline, hardworking and self
commitment. These are the only tools
that made me finish my Bachelor
Degree in Laws for three years, with Group photo of some of the 2014/15 graduands from the Iringa Regional Centre
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A procession of graduands of the OUT Ruvuma Regional Centre before a ceremony to congratulate them, 6th February
2016.

Ruvuma Regional Centre conducts a ceremony

to congratulate its graduates
The Ruvuma Regional Centre held a ceremony
to congratulate its members who graduated
in the 2014/15 academic year. The Guest of
Honour to the cceremony, which was held on
Saturday 6th February at the Regional Centres
Hall, was the Songea District Commissioner
Hon. Benson Mpesya.
It is the centres culture to hold ceremonies
like this with the aim of encouraging ongoing
students, marketing the university and
appreciating and congratulating its members
(students and staff). The event started with a
grand procession led by a brass band, from
the town centre, through the Songea District
Council offices to the Regional Centre premises.
Graduates wearing their graduation attires,
accompanied by relatives, friends, continuing
students and OUT staff, which made a total
of around 300 people, majestically marched
through town and were appreciated by all onlookers.

The colourful event was opened by the

Director of the Ruvuma Regional Centre Mr.
Idefonce Komba, and was decorated by the
famous Wanalizombe Ngoma of Songea who
entertained the guests.
The guest of Honor specifically congratulated
the graduates for their decision to study
and also expressed his appreciations to the
Open University of Tanzania for providing
opportunities for citizens to study and reach
their targets. He also encouraged the ongoing
students to study hard, and specifically to use
ICT on their studies so as to access current
information and materials to achieve their goals.
The Ruvuma Regional Centre is a close knit
community, thats why there was a lot of gift
changing, where graduands, ongoing students
and staff gave gifts to one another. And finally,
after refreshments, dancing and networking, a
vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Frank Julius.