Strengthening International Collaboration in Higher Education: TCU Hosts Norwegian Delegation from HK-dir
The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) hosted four delegates from the Directorate of Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) as part of a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation in recognition of foreign awards, coordinating admissions of students and data management. in higher education. HK-dir is a regulatory agency under the Ministry of Education and Research in Norway responsible for recognition of foreign awards, admissions, data management and career guidance in higher education. The visit was conducted from 19thto 22ndJanuary 2026 and formed a significant step towards deepening institutional partnerships between the two national agencies.
The delegation programme was held at TCU Offices in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam. During the visit, the HK-dir delegates were formally received by the Executive Secretary of TCU, Prof. Charles Kihampa, accompanied by the Director of Accreditation, Dr. Telemu Kassile, and the Director of Admissions Coordination and Database Management, Dr. Fikira Kimbokota. The engagements provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions on areas of shared mandate and strategic interest, particularly student admissions systems, recognition of qualifications, quality assurance frameworks, and the use of data to inform higher education planning and policy.
In addition to meetings at the Commission, the HK-dir delegation paid courtesy visits to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Tanzania and two selected universities, namely the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). At both institutions, the delegates held consultative meetings with Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors and Directors. Discussions focused on admissions processes, quality assurance practices, and strategies for advancing the internationalisation of higher education, including collaborative research, student mobility and cross-border recognition of academic awards.
The primary motivation for establishing collaboration between HK-dir and TCU lies in the strong potential for capacity building and structured exchange of information and expertise. Both institutions perform comparable regulatory and coordination functions within their respective national higher education systems, creating a solid foundation for mutual learning and institutional strengthening. Through collaboration, the two agencies seek to enhance efficiency, transparency, and quality in the management of higher education.
This visit followed earlier engagements in 2025, during which TCU undertook study visits to Norway and held two consultative meetings with HK-dir. During those meetings, TCU presented several priority areas requiring capacity building. The January 2026 visit to Tanzania was therefore undertaken to further understand the Tanzanian context and to jointly identify a suitable focus area for an initial collaborative project.This visit marked an important milestone in the evolving partnership between TCU and HK-dir.It underscored a shared commitment to strengthening higher education systems through collaboration, capacity building, and knowledge exchange, with the prospect of developing a sustainable and long-term institutional partnership that will benefit both Tanzania and Norway.
