Tanzania has strengthened its international education diplomacy following a high-level working visit to Ottawa, Canada, where new opportunities for collaboration in the education sector were opened between the two countries.
The visit, which began on April 20 and is expected to conclude on April 25, 2026, brought together senior education leaders from Tanzania, including the Zanzibar Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Lela Muhamed Musa, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Carolyne Nombo, alongside a delegation of education experts.
During the visit, the delegation held a series of strategic meetings with education stakeholders in Canada aimed at strengthening cooperation and identifying practical areas that can directly benefit Tanzanian students, teachers, and institutions.
The engagements focused on expanding partnerships in skills development, research, and innovation-driven education.
A key highlight of the visit was Tanzania’s participation in the Connections Conference organized by the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan), a major international platform that brings together leaders from technical and vocational education institutions.
The conference addressed global economic and social challenges and emphasized the role of skills development in shaping sustainable growth.
Through this platform, Tanzania presented its education priorities and engaged in initial discussions with various international institutions interested in future collaboration.
The discussions are expected to pave the way for joint training programmes, academic exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives for both students and educators.
In further engagements, Minister Lela Muhamed Musa held discussions with leaders of Canadian universities to explore expanded cooperation at higher education level.
The talks focused on student and staff exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and curriculum development aimed at strengthening competencies in key sectors such as science, engineering, innovation, and technology.
The Tanzanian delegation also met officials from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), where discussions centered on strengthening research collaboration to support evidence-based policy and development planning.
The engagement highlighted the importance of research in guiding national development priorities, particularly in education reform, economic transformation, and technological advancement.
As part of the working visit, the delegation toured three leading Canadian institutions: the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Algonquin College.
The visits provided an opportunity to exchange experiences on academic management and explore practical cooperation models between institutions.
The discussions at these institutions focused on strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), improving teaching methods, and aligning curricula with modern labour market demands.
Emphasis was placed on priority areas such as construction, design, science, and technology, where Tanzania aims to build stronger human capital for national development.
In addition, the delegation held talks with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Canada, focusing on strengthening ongoing development programmes implemented in Tanzania with support from Canadian partners.
The discussions explored ways to enhance collaboration in education and development initiatives.
The engagement also involved cooperation with Aga Khan Development Network institutions, including the Aga Khan University Tanzania, particularly in advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Overall, the Ottawa working visit has positioned Tanzania to deepen its education partnerships with Canadian institutions through structured cooperation frameworks.
The outcomes are expected to support long-term collaboration in research, skills development, and academic exchange, aligning with Tanzania’s national goal of strengthening education for sustainable development.
