Going for Diversified Curriculum (Education) for Industrialization and Employment in Tanzania Universities

Abstract

Though diversified curriculum evaluation results are more or less disappointing, the paper provides justification for continuing to embrace it. From justifications provided in this paper, we still hold that it will culminate in industrialisation and employment. The paper provides five reasons to continue embracing diversified curriculum in education systems, specifically in Tanzania. The proposed diversified curriculum comprises professional specific competencies, embedded skills (extra-skills), and industrial 4.0 capabilities. These are key areas to concentrate to produce graduates who will not only act as seeds for industrialization, but also who can create employment in Tanzania. Through diversified curriculum, we intend to create graduates who are bold enough to face future uncertainties, which include the looming problem of unemployment in Tanzania. A number of models are proposed to adopt in implementing the diversified curriculum in higher learning institutions. However, one implementation model is assumed to be the most appropriate given the current context in higher learning institutions, namely optional extended model. To implement the curriculum innovation successfully, we propose one additional training year in undergraduate degree programmes. Importantly, the paper forecasts possible challenges and solutions ahead of establishment and implementation of the curriculum innovation.

Keywords: diversified curriculum, industrialization, employment, embedded skills, industrial 4.0 capabilities

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-31-01

Publication date: November 30^th 2023