The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is a body corporate established on the 1st July 2005, under the Universities Act, Cap. 346 of the Laws of Tanzania with the mandate to recognise, approve, register and accredit Universities operating in Tanzania, and local or foreign University level programmes being offered by registered higher education institutions. It also coordinates the proper functioning of all universities in Tanzania to foster a harmonised higher education system in the country.

TCU succeeded the then Higher Education Accreditation Council (HEAC) that was established in 1995 under the Education Act, 1995 with a legal mandate to regulate the establishment and subsequent accreditation of private university institutions in the country. Being limited only to private universities, such mandate was considered unfavourable for the promotion of a viable public-private partnership in higher education as stipulated in the National Higher Education Policy of 1999.

Therefore, such circumstances prompted the government to establish a harmonised higher education system in the country which led to the establishment of the TCU. However, in order to ensure such a harmonious higher education system does not compromise institutional peculiarities and autonomy, each university is vested with the legal right to operate under its charter. The mandates and core functions of the Commission are provided for under section 5 (1) of the Universities Act, Cap. 346 of the Laws of Tanzania. These functions can be clustered into three major areas:

  1. Regulatory Function: To conduct regular and impromptu periodic evaluation of universities, their systems, and programmes so as to regulate the quality assurance systems at new and established universities and in the process, institutions are registered and accredited to operate in Tanzania. Also, TCU validates programmes to ensure their credibility and evaluates university awards attained from local and foreign institutions for use in Tanzania.
  2. Advisory Function: To advise the government and the public on matters related to university education in Tanzania as well as international issues pertaining to higher education, including advice on programme and policy formulation and other best practices.
  3. Supportive Function: To ensure the orderly conduct of university operations and management adherence to set standards and benchmarks by providing support to universities in terms of coordinating the admission of students, offering training and other sensitisation interventions in key areas such as quality assurance, university leadership and management, entrepreneurial skills and gender mainstreaming and fundraising and resources mobilisation.