(IAA) and TPDF sign MoU to equip military personnel with necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies

The Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) and the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) have today signed an  Memorandum of Understanding  to equip military personnel with necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies. 

The IAA Rector Prof. Johannes Monyo said in his speech that the move was beneficial for his institution and  TPDF's Command and Staff College (CSC ) which he added deserved a special mention for initiating it.

“It is our understanding that many institutions in Tanzania are not used to working closely with Military personnel. TPDF and Command and Staff College realized that members of military forces are good partners in development. It is true that once good partnership is established the country tends to prosper faster”, Prof Monyo Said. 

 He also noted that the  CSC had enjoyed good working relationship with the IAA that has lasted for eight years and that in 2006 a special CSC tailored programme was developed and this was the beginning of a close working relationship between the two institutions. 

The Rector said in this relationship the academic staff from IAA were invited to facilitate in a number of other related programmes conducted by CSC. But the target of CSC was to have long term programmes and academic partner with a capacity to run the new targeted programmes. CSC initially, consulted several institutions and universities in the country to establish long term courses in strategic studies but this effort was unsuccessful. 

It is the flexibility of IAA management and the IAA Governing Council that authorized the commitment of resources in the year 2011 and allowed the development of Strategic Studies programmes at CSC- Monduli. 

 “Two curricula were developed in the area of Strategic Studies and these included the Ordinary Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies. These curricula were developed following NACTE standards. The Ordinary Diploma curricula comprising of NTA levels 5 and 6 were submitted to NACTE for validation and were approved. Furthermore, IAA developed Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies Programme. 

These programmes are currently in progress and have a total of 52 participants from EAC and SADC countries” he said He revealed that both programmes are aimed at equipping Military personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies that are needed at their workplace and elsewhere in the world. 

The programmes, which commenced in May 2013, are expected to produce the first graduands by March this year (2014). Although this is the first collaborative arrangement with a partner from within the country IAA has two other collaborations with partners from foreign countries. IAA signed a MoU with Coventry University of UK way back in 2009 to run four masters degree programmes (MBA – ITM, MBA – LM, MBA – PSM and MSc. FI). 

These programmes have been running for last four years. In 2013 IAA signed another MoU with Galgotias University of India to run three masters degree programmes namely; Master in Information Security, Master in Software Engineering and Master in Computer Application. These programmes started in November 2013. 

 In the same vein we are working with TMA to establish a Bachelor Degree in Military Science. This degree is expected to be run effective 2015 if the accreditation processes will be completed in time. Today we are here to officially sign the MoU between IAA and TPDF and inform Tanzanians in particular and the world at large that Military staff are good partners in development. 

 I would also like to take a moment of personal privilege to acknowledge some of those who helped to make this day and the event surrounding possible. 

I wish to thank members of IAA Academic staff, members of CSC staff, TPDF headquarters, members of the Governing Council, NACTE, TMA and all others not mentioned above but helped in one way or the other to make this day possible.

 IAA Rector Prof. Johannes Monyo signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Arusha today to allow military personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies at IAA.

 The Command and Staff College (CSC) Commandant Maj General Kyunga signs the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Arusha today to allow military personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies at IAA

 The Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) Rector Prof. Prof. Johannes Monyo (2^nd from R) exchange the MoU documents  with The Command and Staff College (CSC) Commandant Maj General Ezekiel-Elias Kyunga (1^st from L). The MoU signed today in Arusha will equip military personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge in Strategic Studies at IAA.

A group photo of members of military and IAA staff members after the signing ceremony early today.