DAR ES SALAAM-The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) staff was counselled to develop and maintain dynamic relationships with several individuals and groups to better position themselves, for competitive bids and increase consultancies that benefit them, the University and the community.
This was said by Deputy Vice-Chancellor-Academic, Research and Consultancy of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Prof. Deus Ngaruko, while opening training on Basic Consultancy Management Skills for OUT Staff held on August 29, 2023, organized by the Directorate of Consultancy Services, at the University's headquarters in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam and also online through Zoom Video Conferencing.
He further said that consultancies are a requirement for all university personnel as indicated in our University Rolling Strategic Plan; there are several ways to secure them, including the commitment of different resources. However, networking also contributes highly to the possibility of attracting and winning the bid. Occasionally, we may partner with them in some related activities. Despite playing a vital role in academic and non-academic staff endeavours, consulting demonstrates the University's existence and competitiveness, continued remarking Professor Ngaruko.
He also addressed the fact that the Open University of Tanzania has the best opportunity to conduct research and consultancy everywhere in the country due to its presence countrywide; even the directors of regional centres and their staffs have a great chance to seek consultancies in their respective areas while teaming with everyone else.
Closing the training, after issuing certificates to participants, on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Planning, Finance, and Administration (DVC-PFA), Prof. George Oreku, the Director of Human Resources Management of the University, Mr. Francis Badundwa, congratulated participants for their participation in this training that also contributes to their OPRAS, and that management expects to observe changes and catch sight of the increase in consultancies activities in the University. Management believes you've improved knowledge, skills, and attitude in this area; they expect your activeness in doing consultancies that benefit the community, the University, and yourself, Said Mr. Badundwa.
The Manager of the Consultancy Bureau from the University of Dar es Salaam, one of the facilitators in this training, Dr Makundi, said that the Open University of Tanzania's staff can leverage consultancy opportunities using the knowledge and experience exchanged, including profiling themselves and bidding appropriately. Also, the other training facilitator, Dr. Mallya, the director of the Open University Consultancy Bureau (OCB), in his presentation and discussion, emphasized time management in consulting activities and writing competitive proposals and convincing reports together with attractive presentations.
This one-day training that was organized by the Directorate of Consultancy Services (DCS) of the Open University of Tanzania for all OUT staff attracted 47 participants onsite and up to 100 online participants over Zoom had the purpose of imparting knowledge on basic consultancy management skills, which included consulting concepts and processes, scheduling of activities, resource mobilization, bidding skills, time management, technical proposal writing, report writing, and presentation skills.
The training facilitators were Dr. Emmanuel Mallya from OUT and Dr. Hezron Makundi from UDSM, chaired by Dr Edephonce Nfuka, Director of Consultancy Services at OUT.