Enhancing Youth Employability Through Expanded Digital Skills and Resilient Learning Opportunities in Tanzania’s Higher Education Sector : E-Readiness Assessment – Highlights

Overview & Synopsis

This highlights report assesses the e-read higher education system to provide digital skills that enhance youth employability, focusing on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and Folk Development Centers (FDCs). Using the EdTech Readiness Index (ETRI) across seven components (HEI Management, Employers, Students, Digital Resources, Educators, Connectivity, Devices), the mixed-methods assessment drew on literature, stakeholder consultations, and surveys from 28 institutions in seven regions, including 825 HEI students, 126 TVET students, 108 FDC students, and 202 educators, alongside employer input. Findings show strong alignment between HEI ambition and labor market demand, 75 percent of business owners consider digital skills essential, but significant foundational gaps in TVETs and FDCs, where mandatory basic ICT courses are not delivering competency. HEI students are more digitally proficient and quick to adopt modern tools (e.g., AI), yet critical digital literacy remains weak and connectivity is a binding constraint: while 94 percent report on-campus internet access, only 18% experience consistent and 13 percent fast connectivity. Educators are confident in personal digital skills but underuse student-centered, collaborative, and assessment-focused digital pedagogy. The report concludes that a fully online model is presently infeasible; instead, a blended approach is recommended, positioning HEIs as digital hubs (including offline download hubs) for self-paced learning, complemented by in-person support. Near-term priorities include redesigning foundational ICT courses, standardizing LMS-based submissions, and project-based faculty upskilling; longer-term measures call for connectivity and device investments and deeper industry partnerships. As a highlights document, this report summarizes preliminary evidence and recommendations pending the full technical report.