Challenges and Opportunities for Distance Education in Tanzania IDS Shadowing Experience WHO? Profs. Mary Vogl & Mohammed Hirchi Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, CSU with 3 faculty members from the University of Idaho

American visitors at the Open University Mohammed Hirchi, CSU Mike Whiteman, Director of International Programs, UI Jim Toomey, Program Manager, Center for Business Dvpt & Research, UI Harvey Hughett, Director, Information Technology, UI Donatus Komba, Deputy Vice Chancellor D.Y. Kinshaga, Director, Institute of Continuing Education

IDS Shadowing Experience OUT Tanzania WHAT? Trip funded by Dept. of Education grant for International Development Studies at CSU Participated in a “shadowing experience” to observe a project in action: USIA-funded university affiliations program between the University of Idaho & the Open University of Tanzania

IDS Shadowing Experience Open University, Tanzania WHERE? Tanzania, East Africa WHEN? January 1-18, 2001 WHY? - to observe an ongoing project - our interests: African Studies Mohammed: business, distance education Mary: IDS, West Africa Internships

TANZANIA: BACKGROUND INFO ECONOMY One of the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture: accounts for half of GDP provides 85% of exports employs 90% of the work force World Bank, IMF & bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate T's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth & investment. Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption. source:

COMMUNICATIONS Tanzania’s population: 35 million Radios: 8.8 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 3 (1999) Televisions: 103,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (1999) LITERACY Definition: age 15 and over can read & write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic Total population: 67.8% Male: 79.4% Female: 56.8% (1995 est.) source: I

OUT logo

OUT Outreach Sites Visited Of the 21 regional centers, we visited 5: 1. Dar es Salaam 2. Morogoro 3.Dodoma 4.Iringa 5. Mbeya

Some OUT faculty & staff, main campus, Dar es Salaam Dr. Kinshaga ? Mike Whiteman Jim Toomey Harvey Hughett ? Satoki Mahenge, Director, Institute of Educational Technology Mary Vogl

OUT Center in Dodoma

OUT – Mbeya Regional Centre

IDS Shadowing Experience OUT Tanzania WHAT ELSE? sharing of technology (Technology Transfer) equipment training what’s available for distance education

OUT’s current use of technology PRINTED STUDY MATERIAL delivered through postal & courier services, public carriers and personal delivery by university staff FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT students visit head office or regional centers; teachers visit students TELEPHONE, FAX for communication among professors, administrators, Head Office & Outreach Centers AUDIO CASSETTES for study material, especially for blind students RADIO for announcements, publicity

Little-used technologies TELEVISION too expensive EDUCATIONAL VIDEO CASSETTES expensive, not produced locally, VCRs not readily available

Computer use at OUT African Virtual University (AVU) facilities funded by World Bank, installed at Head Office include system, transmitter, Learning Center Uplinking equipment from UNESCO & computers in 6 regional centers Connectivity to and Internet not yet established (financial issues, servers, etc.) Some computers available at Head Office Staff computer training programs have begun

Computer training in Dar es Salaam

Internet Cafés…

Gift of computers to OUT Mike Whiteman, University of Idaho Geoffrey Mmari, OUT Vice Chancellor

Donations from Safari Club & Iomega facilitated by Harvey Hughett, U. Idaho

OUT’s new home in Dar es Salaam

Groundbreaking Ceremony for OUT’s new home in Dar es Salaam

Some technology gurus… Dr. Kinshaga Director, Institute of Continuing Education, OUT Harvey Hughett Director, Information Technology, U. Idaho Charles Senkondo Business Manager & AVU Learning Center Coordinator, OUT

Some family members of Dr. Mahenge

Tanzania is famous for its wildlife

beware of the lions…

or pay the consequences!

Farewell reception New Africa hotel Geoffrey Mmari, OUT Vice Chancellor N. Reuben, OUT Jim Toomey, UI Ms. H. Simpassa, Foreign Languages, OUT Donatus Komba, OUT Deputy Vice Chancellor Mary Vogl, CSU

Lasting benefits from this shadowing experience… University affiliations programs Experience in Africa Continued cooperation Technology transfer International Development Studies Distance education