Feast of the Patron Saint of Mwenge University College

The Administration of Mwenge University College of Education wishes its community a very happy Feast Day of St Joseph.  March 19th is celebrated worldwide as the feast of St. Joseph.  St. Joseph is actually the Patron Saint of MWUCE.  The Feast was marked with special prayers at a Holy Mass Tuesday March 19, 2013.  The prayers were led by MWUCE Deputy Principal Planning and Finance, Rev. Fr. Eugene Lyamtane.

Start of Classes for Second Semester 2012/2013

March 18th marked the beginning of the third week of the second semester of the academic year 2012/2013.  Students started streaming in from the five week teaching practice as early as Friday evening in readiness for the start of classes.  The weekend was a moment to catch up with friends and to share experiences regarding the teaching practice. 

Many of the students have said they were contented with this experience.  For first year students it was the first time some were having this kind of experience.  A number of second and third year students have expressed joy that they have sharpened their skills in teaching. Thanks to the the various courses that aided them assess their performance in previous teaching practicals.

Mwenge University College of Education incorporates the practical teaching as a vital stage in the formation of all its students who want to be future educators.  This year some 600 students were posted to some 350 secondary schools.  We will soon bring you sentiments of MWUCE students with regard to their experience these past 5 weeks.  Watch this space.

The academic staff of Mwenge University College have just concluded a three day intensive training workshop.  The workshop covered important aspects in teaching and learning in higher education.  The three-day workshop was facilitated by Dr. Luke Desforges of Sheffield Hallam University.  Dr. Luke Desforges is the head of learning, teaching and fieldwork at the Sheffield Hallam University.

The workshop which was part of the Mwenge University College continuous Staff Professional Development was officially opened by the Deputy Principal Academic Affairs, Dr. John R. Bakari on Monday February 18, 2013 and closed by the Principal of the University College, Dr. Philbert Vumilia on Wednesday February 20, 2013.

During the training the MWUCE academic staff was able to go through various teaching techniques involving the management of large and small numbers of learners.  Insights included designing and implementing the teaching and learning processes as well as measuring outcomes against set objectives.

Participants were actively engaged in discussions with regard to their own experiences and how best to learn from those experiences and implement innovative changes to ensure better results.  Both teacher and learner are key elements in the process and Dr. Luke demonstrated his expertise in guiding the participants through tools to evaluate their own teaching as well as assess the impact of their teaching on their learners and develop better skills in their teaching by being reflective practitioners.

Various participants interviewed during and after the workshop said they had gained invaluable knowledge and skills that would aid them in their teaching.  The workshop experience was crowned by a micro teaching exercise on Wednesday afternoon.  Each participant prepared a ten-minute lesson and executed it among peers who evaluated them from the insights of the workshop.  The peers offered important feedback to their colleague.

There was a general satisfaction with the development of the workshop and each participant showed open appreciation to Luke as many expressed their desire to have him facilitate other workshops in the future.

In his closing remarks, MWUCE Principal, Dr. Philbert Vumilia thanked Dr. Luke Desforges for his willingness to train the staff of MWUCE.  The Principal said this was in line with a core value of MWUCE, that of lifelong learning or continuous professional development that ought to be the desire of any serious professional.  He assured Dr. Luke that MWUCE appreciated the linkage with Sheffield Hallam University and that the partnership was important as MWUCE is in the process of transforming from a university college to a fully-fledged university and the partnership meant expanded horizons for MWUCE.  The Pricipal hoped that both universities would find the linkage beneficial.  Dr. Luke on his part was grateful to his University for releasing him to come to Tanzania and for offsetting the travel costs so he could make himself available for the training. Click here to read an account of Dr. Luke's work with MWUCE from the perspective of Sheffield Hallam University.  

The Bishop of Moshi and Chair of Mwenge University Board, His Grace Isaac Amani has challenged students to be creative in their thinking as well as take initiative in their own academic undertakings.  Bishop Amani said this during the 5th Graduation Ceremony of the University held on Saturday November 3, 2012.  The Bishop said that MWUCE endavours to deliver quality education to its students in line with the vision of the Church and the Mother university St. Augustine University of Tanzania that confers the academic degrees and certificates to Mwenge students. 

Bishop Amani pleaded with the government of Tanzania to cooperate with the university in the effort to see more students trained in the science discipline. He opined that this is possible if all stakeholders cooperated in motivating young people to take interest in science subjects, and if trainers sought creative and interesting ways of teaching sciences so as to motivate the students.

The bishop also said that education would only be meaningful if emphasis was placed on quality.  He called on all learners to recognize and appreciate their responsibility and the expectations of the society.  He said the society had faith in them and that their academic effort should therefore be directed at serving the whole society.

MWUCE Principal Rev. Dr. Philbert Vumilia said the university’s initiative of Monitoring Teaching Practice enables MWUCE teacher graduates build confidence and expertise as well as appreciate their function in the education sector.  He challenged students to be visionaries in our globalised world and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the cooperation of the East African Community for their own growth and the growth of our Republic of Tanzania.