Zanzibar University

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The Zanzibar University, the first University in Zanzibar, is a private institution sponsored by an NGO – the Darul Iman Charitable Association. It is situated at Tunguu area, in the Central District, some 12 miles from Zanzibar Town. The University campus, with a total area of 170 acres of land, is located among quiet countryside surroundings overlooking the Indian Ocean. Public transport (buses Nos. 8, 9, and 10) from the Zanzibar Town will bring you to the University neighbourhood. The university itself is half a mile from the main road.

Historical background In 1994, Al – Haj Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi, the former President of Zanzibar, managed to persuade The Darul Iman Charitable Association (NGO) representatives, who were stationed in Dar es salaam, to build a Technical college in Zanzibar. The request was accepted and the college construction began in 1994 and it was completed in 1997.

The objective of establishing the Technical college was later replaced by a University one, on the request of the former Zanzibar President, Dr. Salmin Amour Juma, when the process of college construction work came to a completion in 1997. The Darul Iman Charitable Association positively accepted the Zanzibar Government request. Thus, the Zanzibar University was officially opened in April 1998. This is the first institution of higher learning in Zanzibar.

Mission of Zanzibar University

The Zanzibar University’s mission is essentially to promote discovery and application of knowledge, the acquisition of skills, and the development of intellect in the East African region with a view to prepare students to contribute effectively and morally as good citizen of a rapidly changing world dominated by technological advancement. The mission is currently achieved through high quality undergraduate academic programmes which are designed to make graduating students capable of employing themselves and others as well.

Future Programmes:

The Zanzibar University was planned to begin modestly with the Faculty of Business Administration. In fact, the proliferation of business enterprises and hotel resorts, and the gradual expansion of the tourism industry in the country have convinced the Darul Iman sponsors to begin the Zanzibar University first with the Faculty of Business Administration with the view to satisfy the immediate needs of the business community. In 1999, Faculty of Law and Shariah was established and in the year 2002 a faculty of Arts and Social Science was also established. Within the next seven or so, years however, more but quite modern structures will be erected to accommodate additional faculties, namely – Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Engineering. All the faculties will in the near future offer bachelor, Masters and Doctorate Degrees.

Accreditation After getting a letter of Interim Registration in 1998, the Zanzibar University had tried its level best to implement at stage two and stage three, all the recommendations put forward by the Technical Evaluation Committee of the Higher Education Accreditation Council of Tanzania. As a result, The University had received a Certificate of Provision Registration in 1999, and a Certificate of Full Registration on 4th May, 2000.

In cooperation with the Euro-African Management Research Centre (E-AMARC) based in Maastricht, The Netherlands, ZU has established a center for Small Business Development.