Cambridge, one of the world's oldest universities, established in 1209 by former Oxford scholars taking refugee from riots with the townsfolk. At Oxford, teaching has existed as early as 1096, but grew rapidly in the 1100's. Today Cambridge is a leading international academic community, and boasts to be in the list of top 10 universities in the world.
The visit was extreme enlightening, and enjoyed tremendously visiting the surrounding and taking in the traditions of elite education and strict adherence to education discipline. I was introduced to the fact that the university is organised around 31 autonomous colleges, where students live, socialise and inducted to worldly skills. The colleges are independent, highly respectable and provide close supervisions to the students during their time there. The colleges are very competitive and have long and proud histories. Renowned colleges include King's college, Trinity and St. John's. We had a fabulous tour of St. John's college.
I am pleased to note that there are currently 4 Tanzanians studying at Cambridge. Three female and one male. There is Johanna Riha, a Phd student, on a Gates scholarship studying public health. Dolores Tesh, doing a Master of Finance degree. Judith Ruzangi doing Natural sciences and George Mgomella reading at Phd level the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Africa.
What I gathered from the tour was that this is a very competitive school only taking the best brains in the world. The lesson one draws would perhaps be, how do we in Tanzania and Africa in general build such institutions for our youth, while motiving and instilling in them the seeds of the pursuit of excellence in their endeavours.
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| Johanna giving me a tour of st. John's college |
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| discussing the merits of studying at such an elite university |
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| Dolores was country treasurer for Barclays Bank in Tanzania |
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| A structure depicting cambridge |
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| inside st. John's church |
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| this is where the students live and study |
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| wonderful and historical surroundings |
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| beautiful sceneries |
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| with Johanna and Dolores |
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| The previous evening attended the "Africa together "event with participants from all over the continent and beyond |
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Privileged to have meet and exchanged views with Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, Chief executive of the African mdeia initiative (AMI) and chairman of http://allafrica.com
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