Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) was established in 2019.  Before its establishment it was just a department of Development Studies under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; a College that was established way back in 2007 when the University of Dodoma (UDOM) was established.

Since its establishment, IDS has aligned itself with the vision and mission of UDOM which seek to be a Centre of Excellence that offers value-added teaching, research, and public service as its vision. With respect to fulfilling the mission of UDOM, the Institute strives to provide a comprehensive, gender-based, and quality education to a broad segment of the population through teaching, research, and public services in the fields of Development Studies and Project Planning and Management. The Institute offers to two academic programs, namely Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies (BDS) and Bachelor of Arts in Project Planning and Management and Community Development (BPPM &CD).  Furthermore, IDS offers Master and Ph.D. in Development studies.

Unlike other Colleges and Schools of the University that have departments, IDS has no departments.  Instead, it has six coordinating units namely, the Unit of Undergraduate Studies, the Unit of Postgraduate Studies, the Unit of Research, Publications and Consultancy, the Unit of Examination and Timetabling, the Unit of Quality Assurance, and the Unity of Gender.

In the past three years, IDS has demonstrated a remarkable increase in enrolment from 1387 students in the 2019/2020 academic year to 1957 students in the 2022/23 academic year.  This increase in enrolment is a sign that the two programs that are offered by the Institute attract students despite the workload challenges that lecturers face.  Since challenges are catalysts to success, IDS has never attempted to compromise quality in the whole process of teaching and assessment of students.  Indeed, IDS has always been striving to produce quality graduates with competency-based skills.  Efforts to address the workload that teaching staff members are facing are underway, new academic staff will be employed soon since interviews have been completed.  But again, academic staff members who are on study leave will be gradually completing their studies and will eventually join the teaching team, and in so doing the workload currently facing academic staff will eventually come to an end.

Against this background, I humbly appreciate the contribution of each and every staff-academic and administrative staff all alike for their valuable commitments and contributions that have enabled IDS to sustain such a commendable achievement.  It is my sincere hope that this website will be helpful and inspiring to aspirants who want to pursue the programs that are offered by IDS.

You are all welcome.