NM-AIST YAIBUKA MSHINDI TENA MAKISATU 2021,
Bi Lucia Petro, (katikati) mtafiti aliyeiwakilisha NM-AIST katika Mashindano ya Kitaifa ya Sayansi, Teknolojia na Ubunifu (MAKISATU) 2021, ametangazwa Mshindiwa Tatu kwa jiko alilobuni linalotumia gesi asilia (biogas) kupika, Kuoka na kuchoma vyakula mbalimbali. Waziri Mkuu wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania. Mh. Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa ambaye alikuwa Mgeni Rasmi wa Sherehe za kilele cha Mashindano hayo amempongeza Lucia na NM-AIST Kwa Ubunifu huo.
Kwa mara ya tatu sasa tangu MAKISATU kuanzishwa na Wizara ya Elimu, Sayansi na Teknolojia ili kuibua na kukuza Wabunifu nchini Tanzania, Chuo Kikuu cha Sayansi na Teknolojia cha Nelson Mandela (NM-AIST) kimekuwa kikitoa washindi.
Naibu Makamu Mkuu wa chuo Prof. Anthony Mshandete, kwa niaba ya NM-AIST alimpongeza Sana Bi Lucia Kwa uwakilishi mzuri wa NM-AIST kwa mara nyingine tena na aliishukuru sana Wizara ya Elimu, Sayansi na Teknolojia na wadau wote Kwa kuendelea kutambua mchango wake katika kuibua na kukuza Wabunifu Kwa Maslahi Mapana ya Taifa. Lucia amepata zawadi ya 2,000,000 za kitanzania na Cheti.
Serikali ya ahidi Kuendelea Kutatua Changamoto za Maji kwa kushirikiana na wadau mbalimbali
Mkurugenzi wa huduma za sheria, Wizara ya Maji, Bw.Simon Nkanyemka amewataka wananchi kuendelea kuchangia huduma za maji na kulinda miundombinu ya maji ili huduma hizo ziwe endelevu.
Bw. Simoni alitoa kauli hiyo Mei 21, 2021 wakati wa ziara ya kukagua na kufanya makabidhiano ya mradi wa maji wa vijiji vitano vilivyopo Arusha wenye thamani ya bilioni 11. Mradi huo umefadhiliwa na shirika la maendeleo la Uingireza (FCDO-UK) na kusimamiwa na serikali ikishirikiana na wadau mbalimbali ikiwemo: Shirika la WaterAid, kituo cha umahiri katika ufundishaji na utafiti wa miundombinu ya Maji na nishati endelevu (WISE-Futures) kilichopo katika Chuo Kikuu cha Sayansi na Teknolojia cha Nelson Mandela (NM-AIST), Tumaini Jipya pamoja na eWater na unatumia teknolojia ya malipo ya kabla ya kabla (pre-paid).
Kazi kubwa ya wataalamu kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Sayansi na Teknolojia (NM-AIST) kupitia kituo cha Umahiri katika Ufundishaji na Utafiti wa Miundombinu ya Maji na Nishati endelevu (WISE-Futures) ilikuwa kutafiti juu ya teknolojia sahihi ya kuchuja maji ili kuondoa uchafu na vimele vya magonjwa mbalimbali ikiwemo madini ya foraidi. sanjari na hayo, wataalam hawa walifanya usanifu mitambo hiyo kwa ufanisi zaidi.
Mradi huo utahudumia wananchi wa vijiji vya Olkokola, Lengijave na vitongoji vya Ngaramtoni, Seuri na Ekenywa katika Mamlaka ya Mji mdogo Ngaramtoni. Mwakilishi wa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Arusha, Bw. Hargeney Chitukuro alisema mradi huu umeanza kunufaisha watu 23,000 katika vijiji hivyo.
Wakati huo huo, Mwenyekiti wa kijiji cha Olkokola aliishukuru serikali na wadau wa maendeleo kwa kuwaletea karibu huduma ya maji na kuomba serikali kusambaa maji katika vijiji vya jirani ambavyo havijapata maji.
Kwa mujibu wa Mkurugenzi Mkaazi wa WaterAid Tanzania, Bi.Anna Mziga amesema anajivunia kukabidhi mradi huu kwa Mamlaka ya maji Safi na usafi wa mazingira (AUWSA), lengo lilikuwa ni kuwafikia wananchi wa pembezoni husaini walikuwa na changamoto ya maji Safi, mradi huu utawanufaisha wananchi takribani 50,000 ifikapo 2030.
Dr.Wilson Mahela Charles, ambaye aliyekuwa mkurugenzi wa halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Arusha wakati wa uanzishwaji wa mradi, ambaye kwa sasa ni Mkurugenzi wa Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Taifa(NEC), aishukuru NM-AIST kwa kuchagua teknolojia nzuri na ya kisasa ya kuchuja maji hususani katika kuondoka madini ya floraidi ambayo yamekuwa changamoto kubwa kwa afya za wananchi wa Arusha na maeneo ya jirani. Mradi huu umekabidhiwa kwa AUWSA ukiwa umekamilika kwa asilimia mia moja.
NM-AIST through CREATES has been declared a winner of a project titled: “Epidemiological Surveillance for Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa (ESIDA)” under the Germany Ministry of Education (BMBF). This project aims at exploring and designing approaches for data-driven health information systems by pooling skills, methods and data objects from different research disciplines.
The project will build on research and collaboration networks between Germany and African partners to develop joint strategies on early detection of Infectious Diseases outbreak and response in Tanzania. The anticipated outcome is a pre-prototype electronic health information system that aims to strengthen local epidemiological surveillance and help alert local public health actors at an early stage of an outbreak. In the long term, the health information system could be extended to the East African Community member states.
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic, Research and Innovation (DVC-ARI) at The Nelson Mandela African Institution of science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Prof. Antony Mshandete urges Water Laboratory Technicians to be more innovative in providing solution to challenges that faces Water sector in Tanzania.
Prof. Mshandete said so during the Opening Ceremony of a 5 day training on Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) which is conducted at the NM-AIST by the Ministry of Water in collaboration with the NM-AIST, from 8th to 12nd February, 2021. A total of 41 representatives of Water Technicians from 16 water labs of the Ministry of Water are participating.
In his speech Prof. Mshandete explained that one of the goals of the NM-AIST is to provide internationally competitive teaching and learning facilities to scientists and engineers so that they can become change makers by providing best services to the society and industry. Working with the Ministry of Water, marks another milestone towards the goal. Through such partnership we can drive solutions to a number of challenges associated with water quality in our communities.
“It is a great opportunity for you to get more knowledge concerning Laboratory Management Information System, because I believe that
you are going to improve the way water laboratories operates, in turn you will be able to provide best services to the society thereby overcoming challenges facing water sector “He said.
Prof. Mshandete added that, in ensuring the provision of quality services, best practices on Laboratory Information Management Systems should be adhered to. He highlighted that NM-AIST has best laboratory facilities which can be very useful in ensuring
reliability of safe and clean water to our communities. The institution operates under open door policy to the Ministry and other partners who are willing to use available facilities for best services to the industry and society. Prof. Mshandete assured the participants to get all needed support in terms of laboratory facilities and technical assistance from water experts and researchers available at the NM-AIST.
The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) through its centre of excellence in Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures (WISE- Futures) has won funding to host a new Centre of Competence in Digital Education (C- CoDE). This centre is under the framework of the Excellence in Africa initiative of Mohanned VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) of Morocco and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) of Switzerland.
C-CoDE is designed to support the transformation of training and educational practices through digital tools and technologies in Tanzania and the region. The funding is from EPFL and UM6P.
A total of 44 applications from 19 Countries were submitted and finally, NM-AIST’s proposal sailed through and declared as one among six universities to benefit from this programme.
Speaking to the Management of WISE-Futures, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Research and Innovation, Prof. Anthony Mshandete pointed out that, NM-AIST always seeks to close gaps that exist due to socio-economic development and challenges. The impact of COVID-19 is one of the reasons that has led to the need of strengthening digital education to improve the quality of higher education to universities in sub- Saharan Africa. For example, it is after COVID-19 that most universities started struggling with how to deliver their lectures through online platforms. We hope that C- CoDE will elevate digital education to professors and lectures thereby enabling our faculty members to catch up with the ever-changing technologies, where the use of cyberspace in teaching and learning is becoming a necessity.
On behalf of the entire Management of NM-AIST, Prof. Mshandete expressed heartfelt gratitude to EPFL and UM6P support and appreciated the leadership of WISE -Futures for its efforts to solicit capacity and capability necessary to close this educational gap in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania and the region by enhancing the teaching and learning at NM-AIST.
C-CoDE marks the 5 th centre of excellence at NM-AIST initiated to transform teaching, learning, research and innovation. These other centres include: Centre for Research Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability in Food and Nutrition Security (CREATES-FNS), Centre of Excellence for ICT in East Africa (CENIT@EA), Data-Driven Innovation incubation Centre (DDI Incubation Centre) and Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy Futures (WISE-Futures) which pioneered C-CoDE. The goal is to produce top-notch researchers that can come up with innovative products and services that meet the needs of the society and industry.