Research & Innovation at UDSM
Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives Through Research Excellence
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is actively engaged in a wide array of research projects aimed at addressing critical societal needs and contributing to global knowledge. UDSM's research initiatives are organized through various colleges, schools, and specialized research centers, reflecting the university's comprehensive approach to research and innovation.
64
PhD Students
36
Masters Students
20
Postdocs
10
Partner Institutions
Research Cooperations
Strategic partnerships driving innovation and sustainable development
UDSM - Sida Cooperation Programme
The UDSM is guided by its Vision 2061 to its rightful role in facilitating the BRN. As part of that effort, this proposal was developed in response to the Sida call of August 2014 for enhancing Tanzania-Sweden research partnerships 2015-2020 and is aimed at facilitating the UDSM aspirations "Towards Enhanced Sustainability of Strategic Research and Innovation Systems for Inclusive Development in Tanzania."
Taking full advantage of the various achievements from earlier support from Sida and other development partners, the overall objective is to generate sufficient analytical capacity and research-based knowledge and technological innovations with appropriate and immediate valuable outcomes to relevant stakeholders (policymakers, industry, civil society, etc.) in addressing the problem of poverty and promoting sustainable and inclusive development.
Sustainability Measures
Sustainability measures include the enhancements of analytical capacities (through the training of 64 PhDs, 36 Masters, and 20 Postdocs) and research environment (via the establishment of 3 new research centres and strengthening 2 existing ones) for driver sector research. With UDSM outputs eventually feeding into the Tanzania University Network, the proposed capacity strengthening measures would also improve our youth participation at higher levels of education (especially for females), hence improve the percentage of highly skilled workers that so far are insufficient (3%).
Swedish Partner Institutions
Stockholm University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Chalmers University of Technology
University of Uppsala
University of Skövde
University of Gothenburg
Royal Institute of Technology
Lund University
Linköping University
Mälardalen University
Research Programmes
The programme consists of 12 sub-programmes, 10 of which are research programmes and 2 are supporting programmes focused on strengthening research management and access to research information at UDSM.
Marine Sciences Programme
Addresses problems of over-harvesting, declining fish stocks and diversity, and environmental changes.
Researchers work in close collaboration with the local communities of fisher folks and their emerging enterprises will address the unavailability of reliable seed, lack of genetic management and poor hatchery procedures thus degrading the performance of farmed species through inbreeding, genetic drift and uncontrolled hybridization. They also intend to assess and recommend technologies suitable for maintaining the integrity of biologically rich environments and minimize impacts, reduce post-harvest losses, assess and recommend legal and policy environment to promote ecosystem approach to fisheries management and aquaculture development.
The Food Security Programme
Multidisciplinary approach focusing on agroforestry, peri-urban agriculture, and crop breeding.
With a multidisciplinary approach, focuses on research in agroforestry, peri-urban agriculture, crop breeding, diseases control, dairy farming and environmental management for improved Food Security.
Molecular Bioscience Programme
Develops cost-effective diagnostics and uses natural products for new drug development.
Attempts to develop cost-effective diagnostics and use plant and microbial natural products for development of new drugs to combat non-communicative diseases as well as contributing to food security by training researchers in mushrooms endophytic fungi and lichens in strong public-private partnership bringing discovery to the industry.
iGRID Research Training Programme
Focused on smart grid technologies and sustainable energy solutions.
ENGAGE Programme
Engendering Agribusiness Entrepreneurship for inclusive development.
DAFWAT Programme
Research initiatives focused on water and agricultural technologies.
Sustainable Water Management Programme
Addressing water resource management and sustainability challenges.
Mathematics in Higher Learning Education Programme
Increasing competence in Mathematics at Higher Education level in Tanzania.
Addresses the general need for increased competence in Mathematics at a general level in Tanzania, but with focus on Higher Education (HE). Basic Science, Technology and Innovation (BSTI) play a major role in the socio-economic development of any country. Capacity building of human resource in BSTI is therefore vital. The advancement of BSTI and related research highly depends on mathematical knowledge and competencies in problem solving.
Innovative and Sustainable Tourism
Research on sustainability of natural and cultural tourism resources.
Will carry out research on: (1) the sustainability of natural and cultural tourism resources for inclusive development; (2) community involvement in the country's tourism planning and policies and their influence on local content strategies, green growth and innovations; (3) innovations and entrepreneurship in the private sector in tourism as pathways to sustainable growth and inclusive development; and (4) Tourism resource efficiency, social inclusiveness and conservation for economic growth.
Research Groups & Active Projects
Innovative research initiatives across UDSM departments
Information Systems and Digital Innovations research group (ISDIRG) deals with ICT-related research and its application in various sectors such as Health, Business, Water, Road Safety, Agriculture, etc. Innovation is also an important emerging field as organisations are increasingly dependent on ICT to improve operations, facilitate processes and gain competitive advantages.
Research Areas
Design: Addressing challenges in architectural design, interface design, organizational designs, user participation, and their influence in IS implementation.
Implementation: Issues related to scaling up of Information Systems, integration, mobilization, and interdependencies of actors.
Users: System use evaluations and user satisfaction.
Connectedness: Understanding information systems using theoretical lenses like Information Infrastructures, Digital Platforms, and ICT Ecosystems.
IS Evidence: Search for evidence of value added by information systems implementation to application domains.
Organizational Change: Focus on organizational changes and system thinking approach in IS implementations and the role of IS projects in facilitating change.
Group Members
PhD Research Students
- Mr Emmanuel Budigila (MSc & BSc, UDSM)
- Mr Eaton Lambert Okello (MSc & BSc, Makerere)
Management & Contact
Dr Mathew Mndeme - Co-coordinator
mathewmndeme@udsm.ac.tz
+255 788 835 883
Dr Masoud Mahundi - Co-coordinator
mmahundi97@gmail.com
+255 713 832 252
Weekly meetings - Contact coordinators for schedule and venue
The Software Engineering research group conducts cutting edge research and innovation in Software Engineering, focusing on national, regional, and global Software Engineering problems. Apart from theoretical aspects of Software Engineering, the group has special interests in practical challenges facing software engineers in the industry.
Group Meetings: Every Friday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Research seminars and PG presentations every other Friday
Research Focus Areas
Group Members
The iGRID Research Project is focused on different aspects that enable smart autonomous microgrids. Researchers at different levels are working on developing solar-based power solutions that are more efficient, reliable and autonomous than existing solutions.
Project Scope
Development of smart autonomous microgrid systems capable of serving off-grid communities of 10-100 households with 48V DC solar-driven power that can be integrated into high voltage AC/DC main grid when available.
Research Focus
Agent-based Power Control
Deploying smart microgrid with autonomous distributed system using agent-based distributed control for solar systems integration. Focus on IoT through provision of solar driven DC microgrid of up to 48V DC.
IoT-based Communication
Designing and implementing secure and robust communication systems based on IoT technologies to support smart 48V DC solar-driven microgrids, enabling efficient power distribution management.
Project Team
The iGRID research team consists of MSc, PhD and Post Doc researchers from The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden and The University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
Project Leadership
Prof Nerrey Mvungi - Project Manager and Principal Investigator
The Youth For Children (Y4C) Innovation Hub is a convening and training space to promote child rights and invest in open innovation by young people that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hub Features
- Technological resources and equipment
- Design workshops and training programs
- Skill-based seminars
- Leadership and innovation capacity building for young people in Tanzania
Partnership
The Y4C hub is housed at the University of Dar es Salaam College of ICT and was established in collaboration between UDSM and UNICEF Tanzania.
Team Composition
The project includes students and several CoICT lecturers serving as mentors.
Principal Investigator
Dr Hellen Maziku
The research project "Developing EDucation with Input from CoordinATED research students (DEDICATED)" is a joint collaborative project funded by Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills through Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation (NORPART). It focuses on building capacity in Health Information Systems (HIS) and Health Informatics (HI) within the partner countries.
Partner Institutions
University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) - Tanzania
University of Oslo (UiO) - Norway
University of Malawi (UNIMA) - Malawi
University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) - Mozambique
UDSM DHIS2 Lab Team
Dr Honest C. Kimaro
Principal Investigator & Project Coordinator
Dr Jimmy T. Mbelwa
Co-Principal Investigator & Project Administrator
Dr Masoud H. Mahundi
Co-Principal Investigator
Dr Wilfred F. Senyoni
Co-Principal Investigator
Get Involved in Research
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