"The collaboration between Edinburgh College, Arusha Technical College, and VETA Singida has enabled us to learn and apply best practices for employer engagement to strengthen the delivery of Renewable Energy and Green Skills training. By sharing active learning methodologies, optimizing institutional resources, and enhancing quality monitoring systems, the partnership is not only improving teaching and learning but will also increase the employability of our graduates in response to evolving industry needs and global sustainability goals.", Prof. Musa N. Chacha, Rector of Arusha Technical College
The project’s focus areas reflected priorities for the TVET system in Tanzania as highlighted during the visit. A visit to the Entrepreneurship Centre at Arusha Technical College allowed the partners to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing TVET graduates; the need for structured opportunities to develop skills at an enterprise setting during their course of studies and formal employment opportunities after completion of the training courses. Visits to local employers and meetings with staff, students and alumni allowed the partners to identify opportunities for improvement in employer engagement.
The partners also had a chance to visit a newly built Kikuletwa Renewable Energy Training and Research Centre and met with the campus leadership who are keen to put effective quality assurance processes in place from the first day of teaching at the new campus.
Representatives from the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology also joined the programme, indicating the government’s support for and commitment to the project.
Project Achievements
As a key output of the partnership, a full Employer Engagement Guidelines and Toolkit was developed, fully aligned with the project’s focus on improving employer collaboration and work placement models. This toolkit can be used in other curriculum areas in the future, to ensure continuity and local ownership.
The UK partners shared details of apprenticeship and work placement models at Edinburgh College, to support with development of similar processes for managing work placements at Arusha Technical College and VETA Singida.
The partners also shared details of quality assurance / self-evaluation processes at Edinburgh College, as well as their approach to managing a shared bank of teaching resources. For the 2025-26 academic year, Tanzanian institutions have updated verification and self-evaluation systems, clear procedures to drive improvement, and enhanced staff capability to manage quality processes confidently.
Finally, partners collaborated to build a structured programme of continuing professional development to upskill teaching staff at ATC and VETA Singida.
“Through this partnership, we have shared resources and built capacity to ensure our training aligns with the growing demand for grid-connected solar systems. The partnership has equipped us with the practical skills and knowledge to improve our trainees and graduates’ employability in the green economy.” , Trophine Mariseli Kimario; Solar Installation Intructor at VETA Singida
To build on previous investment in Tanzania’s renewable energy sector, the project actively involved the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) as a strategic stakeholder.
Arusha Technical College and VETA Singida, together with a senior representative from TAREA returned a visit to Scotland in autumn 2025 to observe innovative practices in quality assurance and employer engagement and learner experience first-hand.
The visit provided valuable exposure to Scotland’s models of professional development, apprenticeships, and industry–education partnerships, which directly align with TAREA’s goals of expanding practical training and green entrepreneurship in Tanzania. Following the visit, TAREA expressed a strong commitment to continue working with Arusha Technical College (ATC) and VETA Singida to strengthen apprenticeship systems, enhance STEM outreach, and support innovation labs — ensuring that the partnership builds on previous project outcomes in the sector and continues to drive sustainable impact beyond the life of this project.
Meanwhile, the partnership between Edinburgh College, Arusha Technical College (ATC) and VETA Singida has laid strong foundations for ongoing collaboration beyond the formal end of the project. Both institutions have expressed a shared commitment to maintaining and deepening the relationship, recognising the value of continued knowledge exchange and institutional development achieved through the Going Global Partnerships programme.
