[PRESSWIRE] Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – 11 February, 2026 — Tanzania’s government on Tuesday launched a national programme aimed at strengthening links between universities and employers, as it seeks to address skills mismatches and improve graduate employability in a fast-changing economy.

Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi said closer collaboration between higher learning institutions and the private sector would help align education with labour market and technology needs, particularly in science, technology and innovation.

Speaking at the launch event in Dar es Salaam, Nchimbi said greater private sector involvement in research, training and curriculum development would improve graduate readiness and industrial productivity.

“Universities can no longer operate in isolation, and industries cannot thrive without a skilled workforce aligned with technology and market competition,” he said.

The programme is expected to expand access to internships, apprenticeships and industrial attachments, while allowing employers to participate in curriculum design to reflect current and future skills requirements.

The initiative places strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), which the government sees as critical to industrial growth and international competitiveness.

For businesses, the partnerships aim to reduce skills shortages, lower training costs and improve productivity in priority sectors including energy, information and communication technology and value-added manufacturing.

Nchimbi said the programme fulfils a pledge made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the 2025 election campaign to launch a joint employer–education initiative within the first 100 days of her new term.

Young people aged 15 to 35 account for about 34.5% of Tanzania’s population, while more than 2.1 million students are enrolled in universities and technical and vocational institutions, increasing pressure on employers and educators to ensure graduates are job-ready, he said.

Education Minister Adolf Mkenda said the programme was launched on schedule, while Deputy Education Minister Wanu Hafidh Ameir said the ministry had strengthened employer engagement through industrial advisory committees and cooperation agreements with training institutions.

Zanzibar’s Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training Khadija Salum Ali said similar reforms are under way on the islands, with a stronger focus on practical training.

Tanzania Startups chief executive Zahor Muhaji said roughly half of graduates currently fail to meet labour market requirements, calling for deeper employer involvement and industrial attachments for university lecturers.

• The programme aims to strengthen collaboration between universities, technical institutions and private-sector employers to address skills mismatches and improve graduate employability.
• It focuses on expanding internships, apprenticeships and industrial attachments, while allowing employers to contribute to curriculum design.
• The initiative places strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as key drivers of industrialisation and economic competitiveness.

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