JK to launch the Nelson Mandela Institute Friday

BabuK · 2012-10-29T11:15:42+00:00

President Jakaya Kikwete is on Friday this week expected to officially launch the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM AIST), which is located in Tengeru area on the outskirts of Arusha city. NM-AIST is one in a network of Pan-African Institutes of Science and Technology located across the continent, which are brainchild of Nelson Mandela, and is envisioned to train and develop the next generation of African scientists and engineers with a view of impacting profoundly on the continents development through the application of science, engineering and technology (SET). Vice chancellor, Prof. Burton Mwamila said that the official launch of the Pan-African institute will also be attended by high profile officials, scientists and researchers from within and outside Tanzania, including representatives of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The NM AIST-Arusha, which is accredited by Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is being developed into a world class research intensive institution for postgraduate and post-docs studies and research in SET. Mwamila said the construction of the ultra-modern institute started in 2010 and has been financed by the countrys social security schemes at the tune of 38.7bn/-. The institute inherited former premises of the Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and Rural Technology (Camartec). The government has already secured another 3,285 acres of land in Karangai area, whose construction is expected to be in the second phase. Prof. Mwamila revealed that the first batch of students started their academic year in October last year and to-date there are about 200 students pursuing different courses at masters and PhD levels. Most students who are enrolled come from African countries, which have shown interest in the project. Currently, the institute has employed 127 employees; out of them are academicians, who mostly come from different universities in Tanzania, East Africa and across the world. The VC said that training in SET, incorporates appreciable doses of relevant humanities and business studies ingredients. Life sciences and bio-engineering is developed to become one of the niche areas of the NM AIST-Arusha, taking advantage of the immense bio-diversity in the region. The institution thus, seeks to stimulate, catalyze and promote intensification of agricultural production, and value addition to various natural products (agricultural, mineral, etc) produced in Tanzania and the Eastern African region. Other main thematic areas to be covered by NM AIST-Arusha include Energy, ICT, Mining, Environment and Water. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Thread starter BabuK
Start date Oct 29, 2012

BabuK

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JK to launch the Nelson Mandela Institute Friday

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