Tanzania Commission for Universities

PUBLIC NOTICE
REVOCATION OF THE APPROVAL THAT ESTABLISHED ST. JOSEPH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(SJUCAST) AND ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY (SJUCIT), SONGEA
1. This is to inform the general public that, St. Joseph University in Tanzania (SJUIT) is
one of the University institutions registered by the Tanzania Commission for
Universities (TCU). The university is owned and managed by the Sisters of
Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) and Collaborators. It was founded in 2003
by DMI and was then accredited by the National Council for Technical
Education (NACTE). In 2011 it requested to be accredited by TCU. The request
was approved by the Commission on 14th December, 2011. Subsequently, on
27th September 2012 the Commission upon request by SJUIT Management,
granted approval for the University to establish three constituent colleges
namely: St. Joseph University College of Agricultural Science and Technology
(SJUCAST), and St. Joseph University College of Information Technology (SJUCIT)
both based in Songea; and St. Joseph College of Management, Accounting
and Finance (SJUCMAF) at Makambako in Njombe. Currently the University has
other campuses in Arusha, Boko and at Luguruni, Dar es Salaam, with its
headquarters at Luguruni.
2. According to section 5(1) of the Universities Act, Cap. 346 of the Laws of
Tanzania, the Commission is mandated among other things, to oversee and
regulate quality as well as the general management and performance of
universities.
3. Over the years, there has been persistent quality assurance, governance and
management problems, cases related to the breach of the provisions of the

Universities Act, Cap. 346 as well as disregard of the directives of the Commission
by the SJUIT Management at the two Colleges. The efforts by the Commission
that required St. Joseph University in Tanzania (SJUIT) to bring the academic
activities at SJUCAST and SJUCIT to the expected quality have not been
matched with actions on the University side. As a result, students at SJUCAST and
SJUCIT have not been getting the expected level of training in their respective
disciplines. Currently there is a total of 2046 continuing students at the two
colleges pursuing the following degree programmes:
a) Bachelor of Technology in Agriculture [B. Tech. in Agriculture] (282 students)
b) Bachelor of Technology in Horticulture [B. Tech. in Horticulture] (61students)
c) Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering [B. Tech. in Agric. Eng.]
(255 students)
d) Bachelor of Technology in Food Process Engineering [B. Tech. in FPE.] (238
students)
e) Bachelor of Science with Education (732 students)
f) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (250 students)
g) Bachelor of Computer Science with Education and Bachelor of Science in
Education with Computer Science (196 students)
h) Diploma in Computer Science (81 students)
4. In view of the aforesaid, the public is hereby notified that, the Commission is
convinced that the two colleges are not delivering to the expected quality of
University education. Considering the fact that the students of SJUCAST and
SJUCIT are the most affected by the recurring problems at the said colleges, the
Commission has resolved to revoke its earlier approval that established the two
SJUIT colleges, namely St. Joseph University College of Agricultural Science and
Technology (SJUCAST) and St. Joseph University College of Information
Technology (SJUCIT); and approve the transfer of all students from the two
colleges to other universities with similar programmes at the cost of SJUIT. This
includes the 1st and 2nd year students pursuing the Bachelor of Technology in
Agricultural Engineering [B. Tech. in Agric. Eng.] and Bachelor of Technology in
Food Process Engineering [B. Tech. in FPE.] who are currently based at the main
Campus, Luguruni Dar es Salaam.
5. Following this decision, all continuing students at SJUCAST and SJUCIT are
informed that they will be transferred to other institutions offering similar
programmes under the following arrangements and conditions:
i)

All students are supposed to immediately vacate the university campus

upon completion of the set clearance procedures;

ii)

All students will be required to report to the receiving institutions upon the
opening of the second semester. The dates for opening of the second
semester for each receiving institution will soon be communicated through
the TCU website;

iii)

All students pursuing programmes related to agricultural sciences and

engineering will be transferred to Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);

iv)

Students pursuing Bachelor of Science with Education will be transferred to

either of the following institutions: Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA);
University of Dodoma (UDOM); and Mwenge Catholic University (MWECAU).

v)

All Students pursuing Bachelor Science with Computer Science and

Diploma in Computer Science will be transferred to Sokoine University of
Agriculture (SUA); and

vi)

All Students pursuing Bachelor of Computer Science with Education and

Bachelor of Science in Education with Computer Science will be transferred
to Ruaha Catholic University (RUCU);

vii) The list of students and their respective receiving institutions will soon be
communicated through the TCU website;
viii) All transferred students who did not complete or have not done their end of
semester examinations will be required to seat for examinations at the
receiving university under agreed special arrangements;
ix)

Every student is required to keep all the important academic records for
future use, including statement of results/ provisional results (if any); and

x)

All students who are beneficiaries of the Higher Education Students Loans
Board, will have their loan transferred to the receiving university forthwith.

6. All other SJUIT Campuses will continue to offer training as usual.

7. By this notice, all university institutions are hereby reminded that they are bound
to observe and adhere to provision of quality higher education. The Commission
will not entertain any university institution that compromises quality for whatever
reasons.
Issued by

PROF. YUNUS D. MGAYA

The Executive Secretary
Tanzania Commission for Universities
19th February, 2016