Positioning Tanzania’s Universities for the World: TCU Champions Internationalisation Strategies

The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) convened a national online capacity development workshop aimed at strengthening internationalisation strategies within higher education institutions across Tanzania. Held on 12 March 2026, the workshop brought together about 140 Vice Chancellors, Principals, Deputy Vice Chancellors, and senior academic and administrative leaders from university institutions, alongside representatives from partner institutions participating in the TANZIE Project.

The initiative forms part of TCU’s ongoing efforts to enhance the global engagement of Tanzania’s higher education system by equipping institutional leaders and staff with the knowledge and strategic tools required to advance internationalisation within their universities.

Opening the workshop, the Executive Secretary of TCU, Prof. Charles Kihampa, emphasised the growing importance of internationalisation in the rapidly evolving global higher education landscape. He acknowledged the participation of university leaders who serve as Chief Executive Officers of their institutions, noting that their engagement demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening the global outlook and competitiveness of Tanzania’s universities.

In his remarks, Prof. Kihampa noted that internationalisation has become a strategic priority for universities worldwide, enabling institutions to share best practices, strengthen academic collaboration, and develop globally competent graduates. He emphasised that internationalisation enhances academic mobility, strengthens the quality of education, and contributes to improved global competitiveness and university rankings.

Despite these benefits, he observed that the level of internationalisation within Tanzania’s universities remains relatively low. During the 2024/2025 academic year, Tanzania’s university institutions recorded a total enrolment of 259,434 students, of whom only 677 were international students, representing 0.26 per cent of the total student population.

By comparison, universities in other parts of the world have achieved significantly higher levels of international engagement. For instance, the University of Alicante in Spain hosts approximately 2,500 international students out of a total enrolment of 27,000, representing 9.26 per centof its student population. Similarly, Saarland University in Germany hosts a substantial number of international students, reflecting the global competitiveness of institutions that actively pursue internationalisation strategies.

The workshop was organised under the TANZIE Project, a collaborative initiative involving four Tanzanian universities under the coordination of TCU, alongside international partners including the University of Alicante (Spain), Saarland University (Germany), and EFMD Global, based in Brussels, Belgium. Through knowledge exchange, benchmarking, and collaborative capacity building, the project seeks to support the development of effective internationalisationinstitutional strategies that will enable Tanzanian universities to strengthen their engagement within the global academic community.

Prof. Kihampa expressed the Commission’s expectation that the workshop would enhance the capacity of participating institutions to develop or refine strategic plans for internationalisation, strengthen international offices, integrate quality assurance mechanisms into internationalisation initiatives, and align institutional efforts with national education policies and global higher education agendas.

The workshop equipped participants with practical insights and strategic approaches to strengthen international partnerships, attract more international students, and position Tanzania’s higher education institutions more competitively within the global academic landscape.

Prior to the national workshop, TCU also conducted an internal dissemination sessionto familiarise Commission staff with the objectives of the TANZIE Project and explore strategies for integrating its initiatives into TCU’s programmes to support the sustainable internationalisation of higher education in Tanzania.

Through initiatives such as the TANZIE Project, TCU continues to play a pivotal role in supporting universities to expand their international engagement while upholding high standards of academic quality and institutional governance in Tanzania’s higher education sub-sector.