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- May 11, 2013
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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s higher learning institutions have continued to feature poorly in international key ranking reports, with stakeholders citing budgetary constraints and low number of publications in internationally recognized journals as some of the key factors.
In a recent Webometrics Ranking of World Universities’ report, the only local university that has managed to secure a place in the first 50 best institutions in Africa is the University of Dar es Salaam, at position 42.
In the top 100 slots, Tanzania is represented by three universities: University of Dar es Salaam (position 42), Sokoine University of Agriculture (position 51) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (position 91).
In the East African region, the University of Nairobi is ranked 13th, followed by Makerere University in 14th place and then comes University of Dar es Salaam at position 42. The gap between the institutions also yesterday left stakeholders wondering as to what could be the reasons behind.
The July webometrics report shows in the top 100, Tanzania is represented by three institutions, Kenya having six and Uganda two.
“Our universities should compete with other international institutions in taking these positions as we currently have the technology, they just have to aim higher,” former lecturer at Mzumbe University, Dr Anastella Simboja told The Citizen in an interview.
Ranking of universities is accepted as one of the recent developments in quality assurance processes in the quest to compare universities regarding their national, regional, continental or international quality standing. Despite the resentment on the ranking results by many universities particularly in Africa, universities have continued to privately aspire to improve their international rankings.
However, Dr Simboja said low online presence and visibility were among the reasons why Tanzanian universities consistently struggled in international rankings.
She said Global agencies rank universities according to the volume of their web-based material and visibility and impact of the publications.
However, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof William Anangisye said that his university was not satisfied with the position and they were in the process of upgrading their status so they could take the position that they truly deserve.
“In terms of improving our online presence, we have created a management team that will deal with IT matters only, now we have a director for this, including ensuring that we are more visible,” he said.
He said that they have been urging their staff to ensure that they publish in international journals which has led the institution to allocate more than Sh2 billion for research.
www.thecitizen.co.tz
In a recent Webometrics Ranking of World Universities’ report, the only local university that has managed to secure a place in the first 50 best institutions in Africa is the University of Dar es Salaam, at position 42.
In the top 100 slots, Tanzania is represented by three universities: University of Dar es Salaam (position 42), Sokoine University of Agriculture (position 51) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (position 91).
In the East African region, the University of Nairobi is ranked 13th, followed by Makerere University in 14th place and then comes University of Dar es Salaam at position 42. The gap between the institutions also yesterday left stakeholders wondering as to what could be the reasons behind.
The July webometrics report shows in the top 100, Tanzania is represented by three institutions, Kenya having six and Uganda two.
“Our universities should compete with other international institutions in taking these positions as we currently have the technology, they just have to aim higher,” former lecturer at Mzumbe University, Dr Anastella Simboja told The Citizen in an interview.
Ranking of universities is accepted as one of the recent developments in quality assurance processes in the quest to compare universities regarding their national, regional, continental or international quality standing. Despite the resentment on the ranking results by many universities particularly in Africa, universities have continued to privately aspire to improve their international rankings.
However, Dr Simboja said low online presence and visibility were among the reasons why Tanzanian universities consistently struggled in international rankings.
She said Global agencies rank universities according to the volume of their web-based material and visibility and impact of the publications.
However, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof William Anangisye said that his university was not satisfied with the position and they were in the process of upgrading their status so they could take the position that they truly deserve.
“In terms of improving our online presence, we have created a management team that will deal with IT matters only, now we have a director for this, including ensuring that we are more visible,” he said.
He said that they have been urging their staff to ensure that they publish in international journals which has led the institution to allocate more than Sh2 billion for research.
Why Tanzanian universities lag behind in global ranking
Tanzania’s higher learning institutions have continued to feature poorly in international key ranking reports, with stakeholders citing budgetary constraints and low number of publications in...
