Research Collaboration with University of Dar es Salaam in Mathematics

Bengt Ove Turesson, Theresa Lagali, Sylvester Rugeihyamu, Kajsa Gomez Svensson, Martin Singull, Torbjörn Larsson, Uledi Ngulo, Thadei Damas Sagamiko and Edward Ngailo
Bengt Ove Turesson, Theresa Lagali, Sylvester Rugeihyamu, Kajsa Gomez Svensson, Martin Singull, Torbjörn Larsson, Uledi Ngulo, Thadei Damas Sagamiko and Edward Ngailo Karin Johansson

Our goal is to train qualified academics who can contribute to improving teaching and learning of mathematics as well as conduct research and solving problems in the private and public sectors in Tanzania.

The Departments of Mathematics at Linköping University and University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania, are since 2015 partners in the sub-programme Capacity Building of Mathematics in Higher Education Institutions in Tanzania. The sub-programme is part of the bilateral UDSM-Sweden Programme, a research training partnership programme funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The sub-programme is coordinated by the Department of Mathematics at LiU and the Department of Mathematics at UDSM. On the Swedish side, the collaboration also includes Mälardalen University, the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University.

Building research capacity in Mathematics in Tanzania

The main goal of the sub-programme is to provide Tanzania with PhD graduates having a strong and broad background in mathematics through training PhD students both in Sweden and Tanzania. Another goal is to increase the research output of the Departments of Mathematics at UDSM. For this, postdoc fellowships have been awarded and conferences and workshops were arranged. A third important goal is to strengthen collaboration between mathematics departments in the Eastern African region.

Achievements and goals

Achievements

Through this collaboration, the capacity for research and teaching has been strengthened and the quality and quantity of research outputs have increased. Some examples of achievements are:

  • Three staff members of UDSM were admitted in 2016 for PhD training in Sweden following the sandwich mode. One PhD student has graduated and the remaining two are expected to graduate in the academic year 2020–2021.
  • A taught PhD programme in Mathematics at UDSM was developed in 2016.
  • Three postdoc fellowships were awarded for research visits to Sweden.
  • The number of publications in reputable scientific journals as well as presentations at international conferences have increased.
  • Four conferences, schools and workshops were arranged.

Collaboration between universities in the Eastern African region has been strengthened through different activities:

  • Sharing of human resources for teaching and supervision
  • Joint development of PhD curricula
  • Joint revision of Master’s programmes
  • Formation of 11 international research groups
  • Joint applications for research funding
  • Development of the East African Centre for Mathematical Research under the support of the Inter-University Council for East Africa
  • Development of benchmarks for Mathematics programmes in the East African Community under the support of the Inter-University Council for East Africa

Goals and objectives of the sub-programme

The sub-programme has the following long-term, all-embracing goal:

To strive for and achieve national, regional and international recognition by recruiting and training dedicated and highly qualified academics that will be committed to improving the teaching and learning of mathematics as well as conducting research and solving problems in the private and public sectors in Tanzania.

The long-term goal is supplemented by the following specific objectives:

  1. To increase the quantity and quality of postgraduate programmes and the extent of research training for development of Mathematics in higher institutions in Tanzania.
  2. To increase the quality and use of research relevant to high priority issues of national development.
  3. To increase partnerships with local, regional and international institutions/organizations for knowledge generation, sharing and utilization of research in high priority areas.

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