University of Dar es Salaam

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is the oldest and premier public university in Tanzania. UDSM has a significant role in socio-economic development through research. It aims at creating, disseminating, and utilizing knowledge to improve living standards, stimulate growth, and enhance productivity in various economic sectors. UDSM's research portfolio expanded since the establishment of new colleges and schools in 2007, necessitated a reformulation of its research agenda to align with national priorities and stakeholder needs. The UDSM Research Agenda, structured into seven clusters, identifies key research needs and priorities, aiming to address societal challenges comprehensively. These clusters focus on multidisciplinary approaches, aiming to position the university and Tanzania in the international arena through research outputs. The seven research clusters at UDSM are:

1. Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), ICT, and Industrial Development: This cluster focuses on the role of STI in sustainable development and poverty eradication through increased productivity, competitiveness, and economic growth. Research in this cluster includes industrial and agricultural production, SME development, technology use in poverty reduction, and emerging technologies like nanotechnologies, material sciences, and bioinformatics.
2. Education, Agriculture, Food Security, and Health: This cluster addresses the interconnections between education, health, and wealth creation. It focuses on enhancing education to improve food production and security, value addition in agriculture, and the development of new medical treatments and vaccines.
3. Governance, Industrial Policy, and Cleaner Production: This cluster explores the relationships between governance, industrial development, and environmental conservation. It emphasizes sustainable development that balances industrial growth with environmental protection.
4. Gender, Professional Development Policy, Development, and Policy Implementation: This cluster examines the intersection of gender, education, and ICT in policy development. It aims to improve access to education and information, focusing on marginalized groups and using technologies like tele-education systems.
5. History, Culture, Language, Heritage, and Sustainable Tourism: This cluster focuses on leveraging Tanzania’s cultural heritage and natural resources for tourism. It aims to use Kiswahili for nation-building, regional integration, and tourism, while promoting sustainable tourism and cultural heritage management
6. Natural Resources, Environment, and Technology: Addressing the sustainable exploitation of natural resources, this cluster deals with climate change, ecosystem health, and the sustainable use of energy and water. It aims to balance natural resource use with environmental conservation and societal development needs.
7. Law and Integrated National Development: This cluster looks at the role of law in societal development. It aims to stimulate legal studies to enhance governance, promote human rights, and integrate law with other disciplines for national development. Each cluster represents a strategic focus area, integrating various disciplines to address critical issues and contribute to national and international development goals.