When Janeth Mayani first stepped onto the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) Mwanza campus, she carried a mix of excitement and apprehension about her chosen field of Leather Products and Processing Technology.
“Before joining, I had concerns about whether we would get enough practical exposure,” Janeth, now a first-year student, recalls. Her worries quickly dissipated as she encountered the state-of-the-art facilities that have become the hallmark of DIT Mwanza’s transformation.
Janeth and her peers are experiencing a transformation in the leather training, thanks to the support DIT received from the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP). With funding from the World Bank and the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Institute has constructed state-of-the art lecture theatres in the Teaching Block, equipped with modern classrooms and technology-enabled learning equipment. These facilities seamlessly blend practical and theoretical instruction, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of leather technology.
“The new teaching facilities have exceeded my expectations,” she says. “We get to work with actual leather processing equipment from the start.”
DIT Mwanza Campus students engaging in practical training at the leather products manufacturing workshop.
EASTRIP’s influence extends beyond the classroom. Ashraf Maranda, a second-year student, highlights the project’s investment in student accommodation. “Having a safe and quiet place to stay has allowed me to focus on my studies,” he shares. “It feels like home, and that makes a big difference in how I learn.” The newly constructed male and female hostel buildings offer modern, secure, and spacious living spaces, addressing a long-standing challenge for students at the Mwanza campus.
The crown jewel of EASTRIP’s contributions is the soon-to-be-completed Leather Building based on the teaching factory model. In the new facility, students will have access to a unique space where they can hone their craft, from handling raw materials to creating finished products.
A Second-year student at DIT Mwanza, pursuing a course in Leather Processing Technology, Jastini Rojas Kipala, continues with the process of removing unwanted materials such as flesh and fat from hides using a fleshing machine.
The infrastructural developments have positioned DIT Mwanza as a Centre of Excellence for Leather Products and Allied Technology, attracting talented young minds from across Tanzania and the wider East African region. The impact of EASTRIP’s support is already evident in the confidence and market-readiness of students, particularly those in their third year of study.
For students like Janeth and Ashraf, the new facilities represent are the foundation upon which their futures in leather innovation and craftsmanship are being built. It demonstrates the impact that EASTRIP is creating at DIT Mwanza, transforming lives, shaping careers, and positioning Tanzania at the forefront of leather technology education in East Africa.
The project’s success at DIT Mwanza demonstrates how targeted investment in education infrastructure can create ripple effects that extend far beyond the campus walls. As these students graduate and enter the workforce, they carry with them not just knowledge and skills, but the confidence and innovation fostered by world-class practical training. In this way, EASTRIP is crafting the future of Tanzania’s leather industry, one student at a time.
By Joshua Lucas Kasase, Public Relation Officer DIT
