The State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing academic excellence through strategic international partnerships.
During a meeting held at SUZA’s Tunguu campus in South Unguja, Vice Chancellor Professor Moh’d Makame Haji emphasized the importance of establishing new collaborations and revitalizing existing agreements to enhance the university’s academic capacity.
The Vice Chancellor met with Dr. Ben K. Daniel, who is Full Professor (Tenured), and Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Canada. Professor Daniel is an expert in Artificial Intelligence in Education, Educational Technology, and an internationally award-winning research methodologist. Discussions centered on preparations for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SUZA and UNBC, aimed at fostering joint initiatives in teaching, research, and innovation.
Professor Makame highlighted SUZA’s determination to introduce modern academic programs, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and to provide advanced training for professionals capable of meeting the demands of the global job market.
Professor Daniel also emphasized the importance of renewing SUZA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Otago, New Zealand, which had been active from 2014 until it elapsed in 2023 when he moved to the University of Northern British Columbia. The SUZA–Otago MoU, initiated in 2014 by Ms. Umayra El-Nabahany and Professor Daniel; was strongly supported by Professor Idris Rai, former SUZA Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Maryam Jaffar Ismail, former Dean of Education. The MoU enabled a productive partnership that generated joint publications in journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings; supported the development of Kiswahili Massive Open Online Courses (K-MOOCs); facilitated the supervision of doctoral students; and provided training for SUZA’s faculty and students in research methodologies, educational technologies, and, more recently, the use of AI in supporting qualitative research.
Through these collaborations, SUZA continues to position itself as a leading institution in East Africa, committed to innovation, global engagement, and academic excellence.
“Our vision is to ensure that SUZA becomes a hub of cutting-edge knowledge and innovation, not only for Zanzibar but for the wider region. By embracing Artificial Intelligence and strengthening our international partnerships, we are preparing our students and faculty to thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape,” said Professor Haji, Vice Chancellor of SUZA.