Wishing you all the best and keep on being IRIS ambassadors

In July 2018, two members of the IRIS team in TUDARCo exited the team. These are non-other than IRIS students ambassadors, Agnes Matulanya and Amir Simbano. We are going to miss them as they will no longer directly participate in IRIS activities because they have accomplished their studies. I am writing this article to cherish their contribution in the project particularly that of rising student’s awareness and understanding of the IRIS project.

I remember how difficult it was when we had to nominate three students to join lecturers to a trip to Turku for a pedagogy training last October. In the first place, it was agreed by the TUDARCo team that only first and second year students would be included in the nomination because by the time of a trip third year would be already graduated their studies. However, this made the nomination even more complicated because there were now two classes while slots for a trip remained the same (i.e. three). So, the team later on decided to give the two slots to second year against one for first year because second year were considered to be more experienced and familiar with the University environment, a condition that better qualified them for the work as IRIS ambassadors than first year who were somewhat new to the environment. As it was now clear that two second year and one first year students would be nominated for a trip to Turku, the question then remained who qualifies? Many students met most of the criteria we set, so we resorted to GPA and eventually Agnes Matulanya and Amir Simbano were nominated from a second year cluster and Wende Nyato from first year.

I can certainly say that this was the right nomination because participation of these members in the team was active throughout. Those who participated in the October training and even in the April event at TUDARCo can agree with me that these students really owned the project and were very free to contribute and share their ideas for the betterment of the project. To their fellow students, Agnes and Amir were like the icon of the IRIS project at TUDARCo. When they came back from the Turku training, I remember to have witnessed them moving from one class to another convening meeting for the purpose of sharing the advantages of the new pedagogy approaches they had learnt.

After their final examination I had an opportunity to meet them and share few things, one being how they felt when they were nominated to participate in innovation pedagogy training at Turku and their feeling about IRIS project in general and what they will do to advance the skills they have acquired through the project.

Both expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the entire IRIS team for considering direct participation of students in the project. Amir said “a trip to Finland was not only an avenue for learning but a long lasting life experience”. He further said that, the memory of good times in Finland will continue renewing their pedagogy knowledge every time when remembered. Like Amir, Matulanya also had more or less same felling. She said “to me this was my first time out of Tanzania and this excited me very much. But on top of that, I learnt a lot of things particularly the learning methods that makes a difference in a learning process” She added that her involvement in the project have made her even more confident and courageous when doing presentations. Generally, they commended the IRIS project and urged for scale up of the project to other programs and faculties.

Regarding what they will do to publicize IRIS wherever they will be, they promised to continue being IRIS ambassadors. Agnes said “We may not be able to do exactly as we used to do when we were students because we have ceased to be active members; however as associate members we will be ready to share with people we meet about the good things we have learnt in the project”. They called upon students who are continuing with the project to work hard and acquire the intended skills and knowledge expected of them. As of me, I wished them best of luck and asked them to keep on being IRIS ambassadors wherever they will be. All the best Agnes Matulanya and Amir Simbano, May God bless you.