From May 6th to 9th, 2025, the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) delegation participated on Kick-off meeting and study tour of academic and institutional partners from the TANZIE Project (TANZAnia Internationalization strategies for higher Education), among which there were Administrators, Doctors, Professors and the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Commission for Universities.

TANZIE is a consortium-led initiative coordinated by the University of Alicante, with a total of eight partner institutions. Three of them are European universities: University of Saarland (USAAR) from Germany, the European Foundation for Management and Development (EFMD) from Belgium, and our university in Spain. The other five are tanzanian universities: The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), Mzumbe University (MU), Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM), and the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS). The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOE) and The State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) participate as associated partners, reflecting the project’s national relevance.

The four-day visit in Alicante was divided into two phases: the Initial Kick-off Meeting and a two-day Study Visit, which featured sessions with experts in the subject form the university of Alicante and interactive workshops on how we are internationalizing our university and structuring the international mobility office, showcasing implemented best practices.

On May 8th, the team Visit focused on exploring internationalization models, tools and institutional practices. The day began with presentations on UA’s approach to internationalization and academic mobility, with Jose Luis Oliver, Director of the Mobility Secretariat, who provided insights into Erasmus+ KA171 opportunities. This was followed by Elena Olmos (Project Manager, OGPI, UA), who emphasized the benefits of internationalization for students. Maria Tabuenca, Associate Professor in UA’s Faculty of Education, presented the faculty perspective, highlighting how global engagement enriches teaching and curriculum development. The session continued with Christophe Terrasse from EFMD, who presented how international quality assurance systems and accreditation processes work, in addition to the importance of building institutional networks for achieving a successful internationalization process. Later, Mario Guilló (Senior Project Manager, OGPI, UA) led a Stakeholders Identification Workshop, guiding partners through the process of mapping internal and external actors essential for effective internationalization.

On May 9th, discussions shifted towards the strategies implemented at university level. Covadonga Ordóñez, Administrative Director of UA’s Higher Language Center, presented different approaches for attracting international students. This was followed by a session on good practices from Erasmus+ projects, delivered by Mario Guilló and Jean-Baptiste Maillard, offering practical examples and lessons learned from previous initiatives. The visit concluded with a dynamic World Coffee session, where all partners engaged in open dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of internationalization in Tanzania, sharing perspectives and identifying common priorities. A farewell lunch brought the visit to a close, celebrating the strong spirit of cooperation among participants as they highlighted the fact that bonds were created between partners from SLEEK and TANZIE, setting the stage for further collaboration in the future.
To this study visit to the University of Alicante followed a visit to Saarland University (Germany), that continued to provide not only practical insights and tools, but also strengthened institutional ties and reinforced the shared commitment to building or firm up international offices in their higher education institutions in Tanzania.

On 10^th May 2025 the delegation traveled to University of Saarland in Germany where on 12^th and 13^th May 2025 the Team continued with study visits in Saarland.

About TANZIE:

The main objective of TANZIE is to strengthen the internationalization efforts of selected Tanzanian higher education institutions through institutional development, with the broader goal of enhancing the quality of teaching, research, and international collaboration. Moreover, it has two specific objectives that help the consortium achieve its primary goal:

To enhance the institutional capacities of Tanzania HEls to effectively plan, implement, and evaluate internationalization initiatives, including the development of internationalization strategies and offices.

Fostering the development of intercultural competencies among faculty, staff, and students contributing to a globalized learning environment.

To know more about the project, please visit their https://www.tanzie.eu/