DAR ES SALAAM: THE Open University of Tanzania (OUT) is finalising its 25-year vision and the 2026- 2031 strategic plan, in which research and innovation have been placed among top priorities in alignment with the National Development Vision 2050.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Makulilo stated this on Monday this week during the opening of the Sixth Professors’ Forum held in Dar es Salaam.
At the event, which concluded yesterday, Prof Makulilo underscored that research remains a key indicator of a university’s standing and a critical driver of socio-economic transformation.
“The success of Vision 2050 will depend largely on the capacity of higher learning institutions to generate knowledge and innovations capable of supporting government and private sector development initiatives,” he stated.
In line with this objective, OUT plans to reinstate its internal research fund in the coming financial year under a competitive and accountable framework, particularly to support early-career academics who have recently completed their PhD studies, he noted.
“Universities must produce research that provides practical solutions to societal and economic challenges,” he emphasised.
He called upon professors to lead strategic research agendas, generate solutions to pressing societal challenges and mentor emerging scholars in order to increase research productivity and academic excellence.
Prof Makulilo, however, mentioned that the university continues to face challenges, including a limited number of active research clusters, low levels of grant applications and insufficient high-impact publications contributing to national and global development.
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He described these challenges as an opportunity to strengthen OUT’s research architecture and enhance the quality and competitiveness of its scholarly output.
Speaking at the forum, the Chairperson of the OUT Professors’ Forum, Professor Deus Ngaruko, stressed that research is the defining function that distinguishes universities from other education institutions.
He urged professors to spearhead strategic research initiatives that address national development priorities.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic, Research and Consultancy, Professor Saganga Kapaya, noted that professorship fundamentally carries a research mandate alongside teaching responsibilities.
He emphasised the duty of professors to lead research, nurture academic talent and advance the national development agenda through scholarship and professional consultancy.
The Sixth Professors’ Forum has laid a strong foundation in reinforcing OUT’s academic contribution to research and innovation.
Through the forum, professors have been tasked with providing strategic leadership in advancing solution-oriented research, mentoring young scholars and increasing high-quality academic publications.