U of G welcomed a Tanzanian delegation to campus this week. The high commissioners, education ministers and directors met with administrators and faculty and toured campus facilities.

Their visit was part of Guelph East Africa (GEA), an ongoing initiative that includes establishing an institute in Tanzania to help solve regional problems.

The purpose was to forge stronger partnerships with select universities in Tanzania and begin identifying specific research and education projects for collaboration.

Among the people visiting Guelph are Shukuru Jumanne Kawambwa, the Tanzanian Minister of Education and Vocational Training, and Sylvia Temu, director of the Department of Education. Representatives from Sokoine University of Agriculture, University of Dar es Salaam and the University of Dodoma were also in attendance.

GEA will bring together academia, business, government and NGOs to support research and teaching in key areas such as food, health, water, education and environment. The goal is to use U of G’s research and training strengths to improve the quality of people’s daily lives. The institute aligns with Guelph’s strategic priorities of internationalism, humanitarianism and sustainability.

Business professor Rumina Dhalla, who has lived in Tanzania and conducted research in East Africa, is heading up the initiative.