More than a dozen universities from Russia have announced admissions and scholarship opportunities for Tanzanian students, in a move that underscores the growing academic cooperation between Tanzania and Russia.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Friday, October 10, 2025, the representative of the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Clement Sanga, said the collaboration in higher education between the two countries continues to strengthen ties and promote academic exchange.
He said the partnership opens doors for lecturers and students to study and teach in both countries, enhancing knowledge sharing and cultural understanding.
“The good relations between Tanzania and Russia have encouraged more people from different parts of the world to learn Kiswahili. Across Africa, the use of Kiswahili has been growing significantly,” said Mr Sanga. “In our new curriculum, we have emphasized the importance of learning foreign languages. Tanzanians too can now study the Russian language in our secondary schools and universities.”
Mr Sanga added that learning foreign languages contributes to the promotion of tourism and cultural exchange, which in turn helps attract more international visitors to Tanzania.
The exhibition, organized by the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, brought together representatives from 12 Russian universities, offering information and opportunities for Tanzanians interested in studying in Russia.
Mr Sanga said this year’s event saw a rise in participation compared to last year, when only ten institutions took part.
He commended the growing collaboration between the Russian Embassy and the Ministry of Education in facilitating scholarship opportunities for Tanzanian students.
The Director of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Alexander Evstigneev, said he was encouraged by the growing number of Tanzanian students receiving Russian government scholarships, which has increased from 90 to 150 students.
“Among them, around 50 students are pursuing science-related programs, which reflects the shared commitment of our countries to promote scientific and technological development,” he said.
One of the participants, Twaha Shabani Abdallah, a student from Excellent College of Health, said he was inspired by the exhibition and has developed a keen interest in studying medicine in Russia.
“I’m glad to have met representatives from different Russian universities and learned about the opportunities they offer,” he said. “I encourage my fellow youth to explore studying in Russia it will strengthen educational and cultural relations between our countries.”
Another participant, Anna Lucas Simba, who graduated with a degree in pharmacy from Michael State University in Russia, shared her positive experience studying there.
“The Russian education system focuses on practical learning, and I gained a lot from that approach. I also learned the Russian language and experienced their culture, which was enriching both personally and professionally,” she said.