Tanzania and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in higher education through university-to-university partnerships, joint research, academic exchange, scholarships, student mobility and collaboration in science and technology.
Speaking during a session on “Strengthening Higher Education Partnership Between Tanzania and Malaysia” held at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Daniel Mushi, said the visit by the Malaysian education delegation was timely as Tanzania continues to internationalise and improve its higher education system.
The session was organised and coordinated by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), under the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, in collaboration with Global Education Link Ltd (GEL).
Prof. Mushi said the engagement introduced Malaysian higher education institutions to Tanzania and provided an opportunity for both sides to explore areas of cooperation that can benefit students, lecturers and institutions in the two countries.
He said Tanzania is looking forward to partnerships that can support joint programmes, knowledge exchange, research cooperation and institutional capacity building.
According to him, Malaysia’s experience in transforming its economy through strategic investment in education, technology and skills development offers important lessons for Tanzania as the country works to build a competitive knowledge-based economy.
Prof. Mushi said priority should be given to strengthening Tanzanian students’ competencies in science, mathematics, chemistry, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
He added that students should also be prepared linguistically and culturally so that they can compete and succeed in international academic environments.
“Partnerships of this nature are important because they expose our students and institutions to new knowledge, new systems and new ways of building human capital for national development,” he said.
The Director of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Stephen Maluka, said the meeting created a practical platform for Tanzanian and Malaysian institutions to discuss formal cooperation mechanisms.
He said the discussions focused on establishing institutional links between universities, ministries and education agencies from both countries in order to advance education, science and technology.
Prof. Maluka said Tanzania is interested in partnerships that go beyond student recruitment and lead to sustainable academic collaboration.
He said the areas under consideration include joint research projects, shared academic programmes, scholarship pathways, faculty exchange, curriculum collaboration and academic mobility.
According to him, scholarships will help qualified Tanzanian students access training opportunities in Malaysia, especially in fields where the country has made significant progress.
He also said faculty exchange would allow Tanzanian lecturers to visit Malaysian institutions, while Malaysian academics could support teaching, supervision, research and short-term academic engagements in Tanzania.
Prof. Maluka further identified technology, data science and artificial intelligence as important areas for future collaboration.
He said joint work in these fields can help Tanzania build capacity in emerging technologies and prepare graduates for a future driven by innovation and digital transformation.
“The focus should now be on moving from general discussions to practical frameworks that can guide implementation between institutions,” he said.
For his part, the Managing Director of Global Education Link Ltd, Mr Abdulmalik Mollel, said GEL was proud to coordinate an initiative that connects Tanzanian institutions with Malaysian universities and education authorities.
He said the engagement was not only about promoting study opportunities in Malaysia, but also about building long-term education bridges between the two countries.
“This engagement is about building real bridges between Tanzania and Malaysia in higher education. We want to see universities from both sides working together in research, academic programmes, student mobility, staff exchange and technology-driven training,” said Mr Mollel.
He said the partnership can create opportunities for Tanzanian students to obtain scholarships, pursue studies in Malaysia and gain international exposure in areas that are important for national development.
Mr Mollel added that studying abroad should not be viewed as a journey to obtain certificates only, but as an opportunity for young Tanzanians to acquire knowledge, skills, networks and a mindset that can contribute to the country’s transformation.
“Scholarships and study opportunities are not just about sending students abroad. They are about building a generation of young Tanzanians who can acquire knowledge, confidence and international exposure, and then return to contribute to the transformation of their country,” he said.
Mr Mollel said tomorrow, the Malaysian delegation and participating universities will meet students, parents, guardians and education stakeholders during the Study in Malaysia Exhibition at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel.
He said the exhibition will provide an opportunity for students to meet university representatives directly, learn about available programmes, understand admission requirements, explore scholarship opportunities and receive guidance on studying in Malaysia.
He invited Form Six leavers, diploma graduates, bachelor’s degree holders, master’s and PhD applicants, parents, guardians, teachers, school leaders and education stakeholders to attend the exhibition.
“This is a rare opportunity for students and parents to receive accurate information directly from Malaysian universities and EMGS. We encourage all qualified students and families interested in international education to attend tomorrow’s Study in Malaysia Exhibition at Serena Hotel,” he said.
Mr Mollel said GEL will continue working with EMGS, Malaysian universities, Tanzanian institutions and relevant government authorities to ensure the discussions lead to practical outcomes, including memoranda of understanding, scholarship frameworks, student placement, faculty mobility and joint research projects.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the Tanzania–Malaysia education partnership would open new opportunities for students, lecturers and higher learning institutions.
The Malaysian education delegation is in Tanzania as part of efforts to promote academic cooperation, showcase Malaysian higher education opportunities and build long-term institutional partnerships with Tanzanian universities and higher learning institutions.
