Tanzanian delegation explores possibility of collaboration with Kerala‘s IT sector

Possibilities of collaboration with Kerala’s IT sector were explored during the visit of a delegation of Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to Technopark on Saturday. The team expressed interest in collaborating in the fields of integrated development of higher education and overall ecosystem development.

Possibilities of collaboration with Kerala’s IT sector were explored during the visit of a delegation of Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to Technopark on Saturday. The team expressed interest in collaborating in the fields of integrated development of higher education and overall ecosystem development. The delegation met Technopark CEO Sanjeev Nair, Santhosh C. Kurup, Professor of Practice, Digital University Kerala and Riji N. Das of ICT Academy of Kerala (ICTAK). Peter Msoffe, Director of Higher Education under Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, described the Kerala model as “truly remarkable”. “The way Kerala has expanded its IT landscape with government-aided initiatives is a big takeaway for us. How academia and industry are connected — like in Kerala’s Digital University where students are getting industry experience while they’re studying — is a model we can emulate in Tanzania,” he said. The visiting delegates evinced keenness of signing MoU on collaboration prospects with the IT sector of Kerala. Pointing out that Tanzania was now focusing on developing its service sector, Mr. Msoffe said the delegation would also consider the scope of conducting internships, workshops and certification programmes in collaboration with Kerala’s IT sector for Tanzanian students. Among the top priorities of the delegation’s visit to India are coordination of education, training, curriculum implementation and management, internship programmes, integration of technology and stakeholder engagement. Mr.Nair spoke about the history of Technopark, its contributions in the growth of Kerala’s IT sector and government interventions which made Technopark into a successful model. The interaction with the delegation is the first step towards collaboration between Tanzania and Kerala’s IT sector. Santhosh Kurup gave an insight about the functioning of the Digital University. He said that there are immense opportunities of exploring academia - academia and academia-industry collaboration between the two countries. Riji N. Das brought out the aspect of how ICTAK is bridging the skill gap to make the students industry ready in the ICT domain. The idea of exploring the possibilities of student exchange programs with the east African country also was discussed, besides an exchange of academic and industrial expertise in the field of higher education in Tanzania. The other members of the touring delegation were Science, Technology and Innovation Director (under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) Ladislaus Mnyoinne, Tanzania Commission for Universities Executive Secretary Charles Kihampa, MJNUAT Deputy Vice Councillor (Academic, Research and Consultancy) Joel Mtebe and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Principal officer Kadole M. Kilugala. The delegation interacted with lead strategists & IT fellows supporting the High Power IT committee, representatives of Higher Education and Industries Departments, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala Startup Mission, ICT Academy, Kerala Development and Innovative Strategic Council and Additional Skill Acquisition Programme.