Ardhi University Expands with New Classroom Buildings

Ardhi University to Address Classroom Shortage with New Buildings

Dar es Salaam, March 19, 2025 – Ardhi University (ARU) is set to overcome its long-standing challenge of classroom shortages following the construction of four new buildings, scheduled for completion by August 2025.

For years, ARU, like many other universities in the country, has faced limited classroom space, restricting the number of students it can admit. However, with the completion of these new buildings, the university’s student capacity is expected to increase by 6,956, bringing the total number of students on campus to 14,000.

Significant Milestone for the University

This development was announced by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Evaristo Liwa, during a visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture, and Sports. The committee inspected the construction site to assess the project's progress. The new buildings will house administrative offices, state-of-the-art laboratories, and additional classrooms, significantly easing the previous infrastructural constraints.

Professor Liwa noted that the university previously lacked essential facilities such as studios, laboratories, and workshops, forcing students to rely on neighboring institutions for practical lessons, which came at an additional cost.

“With these buildings in place, those challenges will be eliminated, and we will save a substantial amount of money that was previously spent on outsourcing learning facilities. Moreover, student enrollment will increase by an additional 6,956, bringing the total to 14,000,” said Professor Liwa.

Major Investment in Higher Education

This initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to improve university infrastructure across the country, with a total budget allocation of TZS 972 billion for various higher education projects. Out of this amount, Ardhi University has received over TZS 50 billion to fund its projects at the main campus in Dar es Salaam and another in Sengerema, Mwanza.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Culture, and Sports, Husna Sekiboko, emphasized that without government intervention, the lack of classrooms and workshop spaces would have continued to hinder the university’s development.

“These new buildings will help resolve the longstanding challenges faced by Ardhi University. We urge the government to ensure that all educational projects are completed on time and that the allocated funds are utilized effectively,” said Sekiboko.

Committee member Hassan Zidadu praised the university’s project management, noting that construction is ahead of schedule compared to initial estimates.

“After inspecting the buildings, I asked a fellow committee member if they used a ruler for the measurements because the walls are perfectly aligned. This is the work of highly skilled builders,” said Zidadu with admiration.

Final Stages of Construction

Deputy Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Omary Kipanga, reported that the project is now 80% complete, with only 20% of work remaining. He expressed confidence that the remaining tasks will be finished on time.

“This project is ahead of schedule. Currently, we are at 80% completion, and with the remaining 20%, we are well within the timeline to complete it by July this year,” said Kipanga.

This milestone marks a transformative moment for ARU, as it will significantly enhance the learning environment and provide students and lecturers with modern facilities to improve the quality of education. The initiative also positions the university to better integrate modern technology into its academic programs.