Mission Accreditation: Done!

Both the funder and the external evaluator of IRIS have reminded the project team continuously that time flies and rooting should be started ASAP. Yet, they highlighted that active pedagogy elements should be included in the curricula of TUDARCo, should be accredited, and only after that, it is qualified. I hope that I reflect the feeling of all project team when I say that in fact, we didn’t have time to worry about accreditation but quite the opposite. The end of the year 2018 and the start of 2019 IRIS was occupied, and the team concentrated totally to manage the TIPE event that was organized in March 2019. TIPE, Tanzanian Innovation Pedagogy Event, was connected to the Dar es Salaam Innovation Week, which offered an excellent platform to present outcomes of IRIS.

Quantities can measure results of the TIPE event, for example, the number of students (30), number of individuals (300) who presented a variety of organizations. An example of the qualitative result is a message from a micro-entrepreneur who wished all the best for the IRIS team and thanked the project that it pays attention to small people who try to earn their living by hard work. Other examples are invitations where IRIS members are asked to participate in seminars, conferences, and other events.

One result was the enthusiastic flow, which empowered the project team. This positive atmosphere carried and encouraged to submit the new curricula of TUDARCo to the Tanzania Commission for Universities at the start of May 2019. The application was completed with the convincing letter from the Vice Chancellor of Tumani Universities and kind request of ratification. Who knows, maybe the active work of the project and energetic performance during the innovation week was noticed, but the positive feedback from the Commission was received in three weeks. It is my pleasure to announce that TUDARCo has obtained a confidential letter, which indicates that the request has been accepted and mission accreditation is completed.

Sincerely yours,

Ritva