The Act which established Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Act No. 6 of 1997 stipulates Training, Research and Consultancy as three core functions of the Institute. The Institute’s core functions are, thus, transmitting the accumulated body of knowledge to the community through teaching; generating new knowledge and advancing frontiers of knowledge through scholarly research and the offering of consultancy and community services to the Government, the local and international community as well as to the private sector of the economy. Thus, the establishment of a Company enables Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) to commercialise local innovations and technologies emanating from applied research findings in view of addressing societal challenges.

The Contributions of Professional Works to DIT Vision

The main aim of having public liability limited Company at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, among other things, is to enable the Institute to generate income from professional works so that it can supplement its operational budget. Furthermore, the Company aims at creating a link between knowledge generated from academics and the community/industries needs and eventually contributing directly to the National development.

The experience from other developed countries have proved that the projects developed by students and staff from academic institutions can be transformed and moulded to physical products to serve community and industries if there is an organ within the academic institution which develops and markets those products to the community and industries.

Having a public liability limited Company as part of Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology is an important mechanism to transfer knowledge and technology to external stakeholders such as government, business sectors, non-state organizations, community organizations and to the general public, both locally and internationally. It is thus, important to explore the developed skills at the Institute in order to contribute to socio-economic development. Besides, it is expected that staff involved in Company activities will abide to various DIT standing Regulations and Policies.

Alongside revenue contributions to the DIT, professional services and works to be offered by the Company are also expected to contribute in non-monetary forms to the Institute in terms of recognition, status as well as in academic and professional development. Through 11 professional services, the Institute is positioning itself to respond to critical national development challenges by providing technical inputs, solutions and suggestions.