The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is a body corporate established on 1 st July 2005, under the Universities Act 2005 (Chapter 346 of the Laws of Tanzania) with mandate to recognize, approve, register and accredit Universities operating in Tanzania, and local or foreign University level programs being offered by registered higher education institutions.
It also coordinates the proper functioning of all university institutions in Tanzania so as to foster a harmonized higher education system in the country.
The Standards and Guidelines are guided by the following principles related to the provision of university education in Tanzania:
(a) Universities have the primary responsibility to ensure and assure the quality of their institutions and the education they provide.
(b) The growth, expansion and diversity of university education systems in the country has to correspond to national priorities and quality aspects in terms of inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes.
(c) The Standards and Guidelines are focused on meeting the needs and expectations of students, parents, universities, the Commission, the nation, and all other stakeholders regarding deliverables from the university education enterprise.
(d) The Standards and Guidelines promote creativity and innovativeness of universities with respect to their academic function, institutional growth, diversification, and competitiveness.
(e) The Standards and Guidelines promote academic freedom and institutional autonomy of universities, while making universities accountable to the Government and other stakeholders. xi
(f) The Standards and Guidelines provide minimum parameters to be adhered to in the provision of university education in the country while encouraging universities to exceed them as they aspire for a competitive edge in quality and excellence.
(g) The Handbook is a ‘one stop centre’ on standards and guidelines for regulating the provision of university education in Tanzania