This time I, Dag Kr. Norli made the trip alone from Norway, but had the pleasure to make this roundtrip, together with a small Team from BCK, dr. Richard Ochieng (chair/CEO BCK) and dr. Lencer Achieng Ndede (chair of sub-committee BCK student clubs).
The trip was thoroughly prepared and planned by me but as the business culture in Africa differ somewhat from the business culture in West-Europe it is difficult to get every appointment settled before leaving Europe. The key word is flexibility!
I met with the Kenyan team at the airport in Dar es Salaam early Sunday the 16th, and we went together by car to Morogoro for meeting on Monday morning at Sokoine university.
Monday the 17th of April, meeting at Sokoine university, Morogoro
The background for this follow-up meeting was the public lectures we had at the university campus in November 22. This public lecture was hosted by the principal dr. Karugula and HOD dr. Beda from the college of Natural and Applied science. Dr. Maginara was appointed as our contact for preparation of the visit, unfortunately he was not present during the meeting we had.
The contact we have on Sokoine is dr. Beda who are the HOD of College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS). Dr. Beda had organized a meeting with some members of his department for a general discussion about future collaboration.
However the meeting was constructive in the way that we agreed to try to agree upon a Memorandum of Understanding which is a crucial document that need to be agreed upon and signed by both parties as a bases for any future collaboration.
We mailed a draft of such a document to Professor Allen Lewis Melisa who has served both as principal and HOD in the past. The dialogue about this document is in progress and in the end, this must be approved by the management committee of the university.
Dr. Ndede, Prof. Melisa, dr. Alex Nehemia, HOD dr. Beda, dr. Ochieng and Mr. Norli
When the meeting was finished, we drove back to the airport in Dar es Salaam, as to take the evening flight to Mbeya.
Tuesday the 18th of April, meeting at MUST, Mbeya University of Science and Technology
The background for this follow-up meeting was the public lectures we had at the university big auditorium in November 22. This public lecture was hosted by the principal the deputy vice chancellor Prof. Godliving Mtui and HOD dr. Brown from the college of Natural Science.
The participation in the public lecture in November was very good, app. 400 students and lecturers.
From the public lecture in November 22, the picture right in front (with tie) professor Mtui
The visit started with an invitation from DVC Prof. Godliving Mtui to meet with the VC Prof. Aloys N. Mvuma and the principals for the different colleges.
We agreed with the VC to send him a draft of a Memorandum of Understanding form him to deal amend and send back. The meeting was very positive.
We had then a meeting with HOD college of natural science dr. Laizer, and all his staff 8-10 lecturer, and I presented BioCosmos and then dr. Ochieng presented the certificate/ short course in Intelligent design, explained the different way to implement ID into the different the subjects and showed the 5 weeks program with the different modules. We got a lot of feedback and questions and interest. We copied the presentation and gave dr. Laizer. Our main contact on the university former HOD department of Natural science (now Principal at the College of Agricultural Science and Technology) As soon as the M.O.U is signed we will try to make progress with implementation of the ID curriculum into the college of natural science.
We are so privileged that as many as 5 lecturer from MUST that have been accepted as students at the Discovery Summer seminar 2023.
The last meeting we had on the university was organized by the Director of Students Affairs/ Dean of Students Mr. Augustine P. Matem who had invited 10-15 students. We presented BioCosmos and dr. Ndede presented in detail the student club concept. The students are ready to find the student club at the university as soon as M.O.U is signed, and the Constitution is agreed upon.
Tuesday the 18th of April, afternoon, meeting at Teofilo Kisanji University
We had a short meeting with the VC, professor Mwansoko and we agreed that they needed to discuss the matter of further collaboration internal before a potential progress may be made.
We flew from Mbeya late in the evening and landed in Dar es Salaam after midnight, flying to Dodoma in the morning on Wednesday.
Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th of April,
meeting at the university of Dodoma,
We met with the Dean of Students, John Kahemela, college of business and finance and he had organized a meeting with app. 20 students where dr. Ndede presented the student club concept. We also distributed the Short Introduction to Intelligent Design and the workbook. The interest in Student club seems to be very high.
Mr. Kahemla, introduced us to the principal for the College of Business and Economics, dr. Ismail J. Ismail and after listening to our introduction he was very interested to continue communication both for public lectures and as well to prepare for collaboration for the student club at the college. The meeting was very positive. The college have 2500 students
We had as well a meeting with the director of the institute of Confucius dr. Onesmo Chawala. The meeting was interesting when this institute is a result of a collaboration between the university of Dodoma and the Chines authorities which fund this institute. The interaction between us and dr. Chawala were positive, and contact was established.
In the afternoon we had appointment with HOD college of Natural and Mathematical Sciences dr. Naza. The College is organised into four academic Departments: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics. We had in November 22, public lecture at this college and the reception was positive.
Dr. Ochieng presented in detail the curriculum of Intelligent Design and the different way this subject may be implemented into the syllabus either as stand-alone short course or as part of existing courses. The presentation was emailed and as well how to educate the lecturer to be able to lecture in the subject of ID. The meeting with dr. Naza was positive.
On Thursday we went back to the university of Dodoma when we were invited to present the student club concept to all the Dean of Students and their assistance in a meeting. Unfortunately, the Dean of Students for all the colleges Madam Rhoda was called to an emergency meeting so the gathering was cancelled on short notice. We were however invited to meet the Dean of Students in a short emergency meeting and shortly presented the concept and the Constitution. The reception of the student club concept was positive.
We have good contacts into 2 of the total 6 colleges and our goal is to establish relationship and collaboration with all 6 colleges, where we may have public lectures and establish student clubs.
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Early next morning we had the first airplane from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam where we were picked up and driven to UDSM.
Friday, the 21st of April, The university of Dar es Salaam,
The College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS) comprises of six (6) departments namely: Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
The plan was to meet with the principle of the college of natural and applied sciences (CONAS) Prof. Flora Magige who I have hosted BCA public lecture both in 2019 and in 2022. She had an emergency but had kindly delegated the meeting to one of her colleagues dr. Kessy Kilulya.
Dr. Ochieng presented the certificate/ short course in ID and how it can be implemented into the syllabus / program of the university as on the other universities and we gave him a copy of the presentation of the curriculum and as well an overview of the different way BCA may assist in equipping the lecturer to teach the program in ID. Dr. Kilulya promised to present this for the principle and the HOD who presently is Dr. Fred Chibwana (who is approved for the summer seminar).
While Dr. Ochieng and I had meeting with dr. Kiluly, dr. Ndede had a meeting with more than 20 students and the Dean of Student Mrs. Paulina Mabuga. Dr. Ndede presented the student club concept and answered questions. We gave the students the short introduction to Intelligent Design and the response and interest from them were very positive.
When we arrived back to the student meeting it was just finished, and we met with the Dean of Student to discuss how to proceed.
We have 3 approved summer seminars attendees from UDSM.
