• UDSM launches 1,000+ digital courses under HEET program for 39,000 students
• Initiative aims to link universities with industry, boost digital skills training
• Tanzania targets regional leadership in tech-driven higher education reform

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is rolling out a large-scale digital transformation to modernize its curriculum and enhance its competitiveness, Vice Chancellor William A. L. Anangisye said Tuesday at a meeting with the Tanzania Editors Forum.

Anangisye presented the “Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET)” program, now more than 80% complete, as a major step forward for higher education in Tanzania. The project treats digital learning as a key driver of competitiveness.

HEET reached a milestone with the launch of over 1,000 digital courses, now available to 39,000 students at UDSM campuses in Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Kagera, and Zanzibar. The rollout is backed by a 10 Gbps high-speed network designed to support hybrid learning and improve online education.

Liberato Haule, the program’s deputy coordinator, said the new infrastructure modernizes classrooms and deepens links between universities and industry.

The HEET program, funded by both public and private partners, aims to bring universities and businesses together to develop curricula focused on digital skills, engineering, and innovation. Deodatus Balile, president of the Tanzania Editors Forum, praised the initiative for “setting a national benchmark in education reform.”

This shift toward technology comes as the World Bank reports that only 9% of young Africans have access to higher education. By equipping its universities with advanced digital tools, Tanzania aims to become a regional hub for training and innovation, building lasting links between education, employment, and industry.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou