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The Kilimanjaro International Institute
for Telecommunications, Electronics and Computer Limited (KIITEC) under
construction, east of Arusha town. |
Arusha to host new technical institute by October
by Edward Selasini
The Kilimanjaro International Institute for Telecommunications, Electronics and
Computer Limited (KIITEC) adds to the long list of training institutions in
Arusha come October this year. This one however, has a difference.
KIITEC will be one of the few technology institutes in Tanzania and it will
provide students with entry-level skills in telecommunications, electronics and
computers related to maintenance and development of telecommunication equipment,
consumer electronics and personal computers.
It is geared to give students a main training program over two years (basic and
advanced) and optionally a third year for specialization according to the job
opportunities. Beyond the courses given in Arusha, KIITEC will accompany its
graduate students in job seeking and company set up.
KIITEC promises to provide the best high-tech facilities in its Arusha
institute, along with the most advanced technical programmes and is keen on
internship programmes, locally and abroad.
Mr. Francis J. Bronchon, president of the Foundation for Technical Education in
Geneva, Switzerland and founder of KIITEC said the institute will collaborate
with other schools in the world such as Sowela in the United States, Lycee du
Gresivaudan in France, and Centre des Technologies de Information (CTI) in
Switzerland. KIITEC is supported by "Ingenieurs du Monde", a non governmental
organization based in Geneva and accredited by the United Nations.
In the project feasibility study, Mr. Bronchon said throughout the last 20
years, the new technologies and, more especially, micro-electronics,
micro-computers, and telecommunications, have developed and increased the gap
between industrialized and the emerging countries.
People in developing countries have demonstrated a perfect adaption to imported
mechanical devices due to their good knowhow. On other hand importation of TV
sets, cell phones and computers has lead to insolvable maintenance problems
because the national education system favours theoretical knowledge more than
hand-on training.
He said the solution in the absence of adequate maintenance, know-how, tools,
components, or spare parts has been to increase importation of new goods from
Asia. As no traditional network is available, investments have been made in the
latest technologies.
The idea was thus raised to create schools to train maintenance technicians to
enhance the quality of service.
KIITEC and the Foundation for Technical Education grants scholarship to reduce
tuition fees for honour students who cannot afford such fee. KIITEC will be a
day school for about one year as there are plans for boarding facilities for
students from outside Arusha.
The construction of KIITEC is expected to be ready by the end of August and the
process of registering students has started.
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