Mwinyi stresses the need for IT development

FORMER President Dr. Ali Hassan Mwinyi has underscored the need of the Information Technology (IT) for economic development and urged IT institutes in the country to stand out as pioneers in meeting the required demand to equip professionals with quality IT and business relevant skills. The Ex-President expressed his concern recently in Dar es Salaam at the 13^th graduation ceremony whereby he conferred certificates for diplomas, advanced and degrees in IT and business disciplines to about 130 IT professionals who have graduated at different levels including Masters Degree at the Institute of Information Technology (IIT). The institute is affiliated with NCC education, the University of Greenwich and Pearson Vue which has been making it a one stop training and certification centre in the country for the last 23 years since its inception whereby it has trained over 12,000 graduates up to now. At present, the institute offers courses in two major areas of studies these are International programs at the level of the diplomas in both Computer studies and Information Technology as well as business studies which are internationally and locally recognized. In addition to that, it also offers one International Advanced Diploma in Business. Apart from the diplomas, the institute also offers Bachelors degrees in Business studies as well as in business information technology.  The centre also offers Masters of Science degree programs in strategic business information technology. In his speech, Dr. Mwinyi noted that the institute’s affiliation with outstanding centers of learning abroad has enabled it to transfer the IT technology to Tanzania much needed knowledge and skills for the country’s social and economic development.

Former Tanzania's President Dr. Ally Hassan Mwinyi

However, he said adding that, this affiliation with internationally renowned centers of learning means that the courses offered at IIT are also world class. The former President has however observed that, in the relatively brief period, IT and transfer of technology was universally accepted as one of the ways through which a third world country like Tanzania has managed to catch up with the developed countries in terms of knowledge and skills. “The knowledge and IT training skills provided by IIT is a springboard for rapid advancements of our people and the nation at large Your graduation is just a beginning of as new journey in which you will prove your real worth at the work place” he stressed. He also counseled the graduants in whatever they would plan to do for the development should determine a passion for excellence and read hard to develop more ideas for further understanding. Earlier the IIT Executive Director Moiz Salemwalla said in his speech that, his institute is fully committed to offering the highest quality and was always in the forefront in developing and introducing new courses and noted that, the biggest milestone of the institute is to gain the right competencies for either self employment r joining the job market. He further noted that, in July this year this institute is going to start a CBET Degree program which will be approved by National Council for Technical Education (NACTE). The program will be developed by the assistance from senior experts from Netherlands. According to him, the newly program would develop and make experts learn new innovations on teaching methodology and IT innovations making them the relevant and up to date comprehensive skills.