Introduction

The Open University of Tanzania is an open and distance learning institution offering certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate courses.

Foundation of OUT

The Open University of Tanzania was established by an Act of Parliament No. 17 of 1992. The Act became operational on 1st March, 1993 by publication of Notice No. 55 in the Official Gazette. The First Chancellor was officially installed in a full ceremony on 19th January, 1994. Act No.17 of 1992 has now been replaced by the Open University of Tanzania Charter which is in line with the University Act No.7 of 2005. The Charter was signed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania on 28th March, 2007.

Mode of Study

Educational delivery is attained through various means of communication such as broadcasting, telecasting, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), correspondence enhanced face to face, seminars, contact programmes.

OUT is increasingly using E-Learning as a mode of delivery through the Learning Management system, Moodle. It has recently received funding from SPIDER for the establishment of Tanzania's first e-learning center, which will be located at the Headquarters of OUT in Dar es Salaam. The E-learning Centre will focus initially on the building the capacity of the staff and then students from OUT and other universities and colleges. SIDA will also support the capacity-building work of the E-learning Centre.

Structure of OUT

At the moment the Open University of Tanzania consist of the following Faculties, Institutes and Directorates:

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Faculty of ScienceTechnology and Environmental Studies
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Business Management
Institute of Continuing Education
Institute of Educational Technology
Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies
Directorate of Planning and Development
Directorate of communication and marketing Directorate of Finance and Accounts

More Faculties and Institutes may be established according to procedures indicated in the new Open University of Tanzania Charter.

The Open University of Tanzania is governed by The council which has 22 council members and meets 4 times a year. The chairman of the council is Prof. Simon Mbilinyi.

The Head of the OUT Management Team is the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tolly Mbwete and he is assisted by three Deputy Vice Chancellors:

OUT in the Regions

The Open University of Tanzania conducts its operations through Regional Centre's and Study Centre's. Currently there are 25 Regional Centre's and 69 Study Centre's.

At each Regional centre there are study centres to service distance study students. Within each region several institutions with adequate facilities have been identified to serve as study centre. For example Secondary schools, Colleges and Institutes.

Study centres serve as general points for project work, interaction with other students, attending seminars and tutorials, practical work and demonstrations and fo using reference materials.

They also provide councelling and tutoring services for the Open University students as well as physical facilities such as classrooms, libraries and labouratories.

Students from outside Tanzania are affiliated to one of the Regional Study center.

OUT Headquarters

The Open University of Tanzania is situated on Kawawa Road in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam.

OUT Supporters

SIDA

In February 2004, the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) requested SIDA to support its efforts to strengthen the University bu means of an organisation development and improvement of services. OUT has since July 2004 embarked on an institutional transformations based on the following two basic principles: