Theme: 21st Century eLearning Transforming Education, Employment, and Economies

1. Theme: 21st Century eLearning Transforming Education, Employment, and Economies Opportunities and Challenges of instituting Distance Learning and E-Learning: Evidence and Experiences of Mzumbe University, Tanzania • By • Jennifer Sesabo and Rashid Mfaume • Mzumbe University, Tanzania

2. Theme of the Conference, 20142014 eLearning Innovations Conference dedicated to • Our presentation fits well with the theme and dedication of this year’s conference “ICT innovators, leaders, and educators seeking to enrich learning experiences using diverse technologies” • We are focusing our presentation on challenges and opportunities of instituting DE and e-learning for different programmes and campuses within Mzumbe University • The major question we try to address is ‘how can we institute e-learning and DE while maintaining quality of the programme, process as well as outputs (graduates) • Our presentation is based on our experiences and ground based evidence for over 5 years of implementation attempts

3. Presentation Outline

4. Mzumbe University at Glance - Location The University Main Campusis located 22 Kms South-West of Morogoro Municipal centre, about 4 Kms off the Tanzania-Zambia Highway It is about 220 Kms away from Dar es Salaam, and within an hour's drive to the Mikumi National Park Situated at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountain ranges (on the Eastern and Southern sides) The University has two other campuses and 2 teaching centres

5. Mzumbe University – Dar es Salaam Campus In line with the Mission of the University, the main purpose of the campus college is basically to offer high quality training, research and consultancy. The location of the campus is strategic, since Dar es Salaam is the home of many Tanzanians who would like to pursue Masters Degrees that the campus offers. Currently the campus offers postgraduate programmes only

6. Mzumbe University – Mbeya Campus College Mzumbe University Mbeya campus college College provides academic activities including teaching The campus offers mainly undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programmes The Mbeya Campus is located in the Mbeya city in the Forest Area. It is a walking distance from the Tanzania/Zambia Highway. The campus is currently under heavy expansion of its staff, programme and infrastructure facilities

7. Changing context of higher education in Tanzania Over recent years key changes have taken place in higher education institutions that have led to significant transformations in their policies and practices Policy change and some pragmatic strategies saw increase in secondary school completion rate that place huge demand for higher education This growing demand for education has placed institutions in a new scenario where they needed to respond creatively and within the constraints of limited funding and inadequate infrastructures DL and e-Learning has been seen as one strategy of coping or solving the challenge

8. Triggers of DL and E-Learning The growing interest in distance learning and e-learning seems to be triggered by a variety of sources: - Massification in students’ enrolment in universities, - Limited space and teaching in conventional campus based classroom settings - Limited number of qualified teaching staff, - Keeping pace with new technology and trend as well as - Adopting flexible learning modalities to students

9. Conceptual Issues Over recent, the quality of education offered through distance and e-learning portfolio has generated skepticism and intense debates about quality teaching and learning process There are also long standing perceptual issues and trust on DL and even e-learning Many would think that DL and use of e-learning result into production of low quality graduates

10. Distance Learning and e-Learning Education Technology or computer based learning, or e-learning can enhance teaching and learning practices It is flexible, economical and more importantly it breaks the hard walls of class rooms thus creating and appetizing learners In addition, it can empower teachers and learners, transforming teaching and learning processes from being highly teacher dominated to student centred (Higgins, 2003; Trucano, 2005).

11. Teaching and learning at Mzumbe University Ever since its establishment - traditionally teaching mode Mzumbe University courses are taught in plenary sessions combined with seminars each week (5 contact hrsfor undergraduate and 4 contact hrsfor PG) Students are required to physically attend both lecture (plenary) as well as seminar sessions (ref: MU student assessment and criteria by Laws, 2012) All submissions of student works (assignments, tests, term papers) have to be done in hard printed form

12. Changing landscape in teaching and learning at Mzumbe University • Education is also undergoing radical transformation as a result of the digital revolution and the rapid development of ICT and digital media • The multiplication and diversification of sources of information, the continued production and circulation of knowledge, combined with the development of new ICT • Digital media, are spurring the emergence of new forms of learning in the context of the knowledge society • Mzumbe University has responded to the challenge and continued to institutionalize in her Corporate Strategic Plan (2012-2017)

13. E-Learning Adoption and Use at Mzumbe University • Has slowly adopted the use of e-learning/blended learning way back in 2009 (save for use of computers in processing work) • The adoption and use among lecturers and students has been slow • It has gained momentum and impetus from 2012 when it has clearly institutionalized in university SP

15. Adoption and uses has started • More use of blended learning by students for independent study • Increased owning of mobile phones, social media portfolio etc • How do we assure quality in these self directed studies? • What is the extent of readiness among lecturers and students?

16. Perception and Readiness of Students on the Use E-Learning (high) Number of barriers are mentioned by Lecturers and students Low competence is ranked high by both students and lecturers (86% and 79%)

17. Top leadership commitment and support through policies, institutionalization in university Plans and monitoring – Thanks it exist Technology (computers, tablet, mobile gargets, technical support – modest available?? Readiness to adopt and use among target groups – Needs to inculcate changes Economy of connectivity and affordability (relatively high) – ????? Monitoring and institutionalization of quality assurance framework – quality of curriculum content, LMS, and delivery – continue assuring quality