Enhancing research skills through IRIS project

New Innovation pedagogy calls for hands on activities where students engage themselves in solving real community problems practically.  This situation facilitates collaboration between universities and the industry, something of which has been lagging behind in Tanzania. Literature shows that there is a big gap between what is being taught in universities and the industry. This weak link is well addressed by the IRIS project.  Students are learning through innovative teaching and learning methods which allow them to acquire enough skills, competencies and knowledge to work with the community to solve their daily problems.

University-industrial linkage has been improved at Tumaini University Dar es salaam College (TUDARCo) through IRIS project. Recently the Paulig Coffee industry based in Finland which is working in collaboration with Volcafe, Taylor Winch Tanzania Limited and Rafiki Coffee gave students from TUDARCo an assignment to conduct a study on social, economic and environmental impact of certified and conventional coffee farming at Mamsera village in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro. Students did it practically from proposal writing to data collection, analysis and report writing.

Ms. Reine,  Fadhili and Jasinta interviewing Coffee farmers at Mamsera village in Rombo District, Kilimanjaro.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Reine on the left and Robert on the right interviewing farmers at Mamsera village. They made sure that they get as much information as possible regardless of whether they had chairs to sit on or not.

Data collection exercise allowed students to gain experience on communicating with literate, semi-literate and illiterate farmers. They were also able to interview agricultural extension officers and coffee board members. This situation enhanced their communication skills, competence and perseverance in dealing with different people.  They also gained practical skills on data collection, analysis and interpretation.