The BSU4 delegation continued its benchmarking visit at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), gaining practical knowledge on research administration, grant management, and digital systems that support research activities across the University.
The programme brought together experts from different directorates, who shared their experience in managing research grants, consultancy services, publications, and institutional research systems.
Josephat Nahale, an ICT expert, explained how technology supports effective research management at UDSM. He demonstrated how digital systems improve service delivery by helping researchers and administrators manage research activities more efficiently. He also introduced the delegation to the Research Information Management System (RIMS), explaining how the platform manages research information from proposal submission to project completion. He highlighted features such as proposal vetting, integration with publication databases, and centralized storage of research information.
Nahale further demonstrated ConRis, the University’s consultancy and research management platform. During the session, he showed how researchers submit funding requests, monitor project implementation, track research funds, and manage the complete workflow of consultancy and research projects through a single system.
The delegation also learned how UDSM manages research grant calls, administers externally funded research projects, and processes institutional fees through integrated financial management systems. The discussions provided practical insights into how the University ensures transparency, accountability, and efficiency in research grant administration.
The session also featured presentations from researchers and administrative staff responsible for research support services. Ms. Zitta, Project Registrar, explained the University’s project registration process and its role in maintaining accurate records of research activities. Nava Omar introduced the delegation to the University’s organizational structure, including the offices of the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Planning, Finance and Administration (DVC-PFA), the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Academic (DVC-Academic), and the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research (DVC-R). She further explained the key directorates under the DVC-R office, including the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies (DPS) and the Directorate of Research and Publications (DRP), and how they work together to support research and innovation.
Dr. Leonard, Director of Research and Publications, provided an in-depth presentation on research grant administration at UDSM. He explained how the University coordinates grant applications, manages funded projects, supports researchers throughout the grant lifecycle, and ensures compliance with funding requirements. His presentation gave the delegation a practical understanding of the administrative processes that support successful research projects.
On 19 June, the delegation met again with Dr. Leonard, Director of Research and Publications, for a follow-up session focusing on the University’s research governance structure. He provided a broader overview of the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research (DVC-R) and explained how its different directorates work together to support research, innovation, postgraduate training, publications, consultancy, and grant management across the University.
Dr. Leonard also introduced the SUZA delegation to the responsibilities of each directorate under the DVC-R office, demonstrating how coordinated institutional support strengthens research administration and enables researchers to receive guidance from proposal development through project implementation and completion.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Prof. Nelson Boniface, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research (DVC-R), who welcomed the team and expressed his appreciation for the ongoing collaboration between the University of Dar es Salaam and the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA). He recalled his visit to SUZA two months earlier and said it was encouraging to continue strengthening the partnership through reciprocal learning and the exchange of experience.
Prof. Boniface thanked the BSU4 delegation for visiting UDSM and commended the team’s commitment to learning from the University’s experience in research and grant management. He noted that benchmarking visits provide valuable opportunities for institutions to learn from one another, strengthen internal systems, and build long-term partnerships.
He also emphasized the importance of communication throughout the implementation of every research project. He noted that regular communication helps increase the visibility of research projects, keeps stakeholders informed, strengthens collaboration among partners, and ensures that research findings reach a wider audience and create greater impact.
The benchmarking visit provided the BSU4 delegation with valuable practical knowledge on research management systems, grant administration, digital research platforms, institutional governance, and best practices that will contribute to strengthening research management and administrative capacity at SUZA. Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and promoting excellence in research and innovation.