The Official Launching of NM-AIST Capacity Building Project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) on March 31, 2017. At the front raw is: The Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Prof. Joyce Ndalichako (Centre), the NM-AIST Chairman of the Council Prof. David Mwakyusa(3rd left), AfDB Country Representative Mr. Khamis Simba ( 3rd Right) and NM-AIST Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Karoli Njau (2nd Left)

The Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology of Tanzania Hon. Eng. Stella Manyanya (2nd Right) advising on issues relating to Banana Propagation project, during her visit to NM-AIST recently. Listening to Hon. Eng. Stella Manyanya are: the NM-AIST Ag. DVC, for Academics, Research and Innovation at NM-AIST, Prof. Karoli Njau (1st Right), the NM-AIST Ag. DVC, for Planning, Finance and Administration Dr. Musa Chacha (3rd Right).

The Chairman of Tanzania Commission for Universities TCU for Northern Region, Prof. Jacob Mtabaji (2nd left) enthusiastically listens to a team of NM-AIST ICT- RC who showed him to see various facilities within the Resource Center including the High Performance Computing system which will enhance a wide range of computationally intensive tasks in various fields. He was accompanied by the Ag. Executive of TCU Prof. Eleuther Mwageni (3rd Left).

A Group Photo of participants during the 2nd African Grand challenge (AGC) 2017 from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania. The Overall winner was from Rwanda. In the front row are The Founding Vice Chancellor of NM-AIST and current Senior Local Advisor of the AGC Prof. Burton Mwamila (8th Right), The International Advisor and Organizer of AGC from Boston University , Prof John Henderson (6th Right), Marty Henderson (7th Right).

Dr. Anne Edwards from John Innes Centre UK explaining to students of Plant Metabolism for Improved Nutrition and Health workshop on quantification of starch present in banana by using spectrophotometry

The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa shaking hands with the Former Ag. Vice Chancellor of NM-AIST, Prof. Osmund Kaunde, upon his arrival to NM-AIST intended for having lunch with Regional Executives on Saturday 17th December, 2016. His Visit to NM-AIST was part of his official visit to Arusha Region.

Teaching and Learning
Introduction
Tanzania's current national focus is to speed up socio-economic development. The scientific and technological transformation of the agricultural and industrial sectors is mentioned by several development policies and strategies as a 'must' for this mission to be realized. For instance, the National Development Vision 2025 envisages a link between economic productivity, and competitiveness and advanced technologies. This link is expressly or impliedly stated in so many other national documents including the National Economic Empowerment Policy of 2004; Sustainable Industries Development Policy for 1996-2020; Agricultural Marketing Policy of 2008; Rural Development Strategy of 2001; Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Policy of 2002; National Public Private Partnership (PPP) Policy of 2009; National Higher Education Policy of 1999; Community Development Policy of 1996; and of course, National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty II (NSGRP II) of 2010. The focus of NM-AIST, among other things, corresponds with the National Higher Education Policy of 1999, which among other things, calls for design of programmes that are geared towards responding to the changing world of science and technology, and responding to ever-changing needs of the people, their government, industry, commerce and surrounding environment in general. Such needs are directly captured by NM- AIST's programmatic focus which basically, emphasizes linkage to society and industry, and scientific and technological response to local needs and problems.
The NM-AIST training curricula incorporate strong innovation and entrepreneurship modules, and strong academia-industry relations are part of this institution's development agenda. The institution's curricula also seeks to accommodate, enable, stimulate, catalyze and harness the innovativeness and entrepreneurial qualities (as stipulated in the 2002 SME Policy stated above) inherent in the young generation for the sustainable development of Tanzania and Sub- Saharan Africa.
Distinguishing Features of The NM-AIST Academic Programmes
In the quest for attaining high quality and internationally competitive delivery of teaching and learning in science, engineering and technology, NM-AIST is striving to ensure the following, among other things:
- Development of adequate and well-functioning world class teaching and learning physical infrastructure and facilities; and
- Production of top notch SET academics, researchers, techno-preneurs, industry captains and innovation managers.
The NM-AIST is uniquely focused on postgraduate training and research only, and its curricula is, therefore, designed in such a way as to enable the following:-
- Generation and transformation of knowledge into tangible products, industrial and business solutions, and policy briefs for sustainable development.
- Promotion of the application of science, engineering, technology and innovation to generate wealth.
- Promotion of value-addition to natural resources thereby facilitating harnessing of the resources of nature for the benefit of the people and national socio-economic development.
- Production of high calibre SETI academics and researchers for the growing number of universities and R&D institutions in the country and region.
- Production of scientists and engineers who will spearhead industrial development through innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Grooming and nurturing of research and technological spin-offs, thereby catalyzing the growth of the local industry and the private sector.
This way NM-AIST is a total departure from the common academic tendency of most of the other Tanzanian and Eastern African higher learning institutions. Attainment of all the above unique features will certainly make NM-AIST world- class and a centre of excellence, and thereby make Tanzania and EA proud of its existence.
STRUCTURAL PILLARS
P.O. Box 447, Arusha, TANZANIA
Tel: +255 272 970001
Fax: +255 272 970016
Mobile: +255 767 677580 / +255 784 777580
E-mail: vc@nm-aist.ac.tz
Website: www.nm-aist.ac.tz