The National Institute of Transport (NIT) is strengthening efforts to promote workplace efficiency, discipline and productivity through Japanese Kaizen principles, equipping staff and students with practical skills to improve their daily activities and professional performance.
The initiative combines Japanese language lessons with training in the 5S Kaizen approach, a Japanese workplace improvement philosophy that emphasises organisation, cleanliness, discipline, standardisation and continuous improvement.
The programme aims to help participants develop positive working habits, manage their time effectively and create organised environments that support better performance.
Speaking about the impact of the training, Martha Karenzi, an Assistant Lecturer at NIT, said the knowledge gained had positively influenced how she handles her daily responsibilities, both at the workplace and in her personal activities.
She explained that applying Kaizen principles had encouraged her to become more organised, disciplined and efficient in carrying out her duties.
Gloria Malamsha, a Japanese language student at NIT who also serves as an Assistant Lecturer in Computer Studies, said the programme provided an opportunity to acquire additional knowledge and skills that could strengthen personal growth and professional development.
Frank Godfrey, a graduate of the programme's first batch, highlighted the importance of time management, saying the training had taught him that time is money and should be used wisely.
He said the lessons had changed his approach to planning and managing daily activities, helping him appreciate the importance of using time productively.
The programme was introduced by Nozomi Omura, a Japanese national and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer who has been working at NIT for the past two years.
Omura is the founder and instructor of the programme, through which participants learn Japanese language and the practical application of 5S Kaizen principles.
The initiative reflects the value of Tanzania-Japan cooperation in skills development and knowledge exchange, while providing students and staff with practical approaches to improving productivity.
By encouraging participants to embrace discipline, effective time management and continuous improvement, the programme is helping promote a culture in which small, consistent changes can deliver meaningful improvements in workplaces and communities.