Lyn Frans
Tanzanian universities’ quest for global recognition appears to be an elusive pursuit, with recent rankings placing them significantly lower than their East African counterparts.
Stakeholders have over the years attributed the continuous poor rankings to budgetary constraints and a low number of publications in internationally recognized journals as key factors.
In a recent Webometrics Ranking of World Universities’ report, the only local university that has managed to secure a place in the first 50 best institutions in Africa is the University of Dar Es Salaam, at position 37,a slight progress from their 2021 ranting position of 42.
TOP 5 UNIVERSITIES IN EAST AFRICA:
1. 🇰🇪 University of Nairobi (Kenya): 7 in Africa
2. 🇺🇬 Makerere University (Uganda): 16 in Africa
3. 🇰🇪 Kenyatta University (Kenya): 28 in Africa
4. 🇰🇪 Strathmore University (Kenya): 31 in Africa
5. 🇹🇿 University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania): 37 in Africa
According to the 2024 rankings by UniRank, a globally recognized higher education portal, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania’s premier university, is ranked 37th in Africa.
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), ranked second and third nationally, stand at 79th and 89th positions, respectively, on the continent.
The University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) occupy the 123rd and 174th slots in Africa, respectively, while they are ranked fourth and fifth in Tanzania, respectively.
Global recognition signifies excellence, innovation, and academic prowess for universities, according to experts. Despite positive local rankings, Tanzanian higher education institutions lag behind on the continental and global stages.
Additional Source: The Citizen
