The Aga Khan University (AKU) Tanzania marked a major milestone in its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and digital transformation with the official opening of the Digital Scholarship Center (DSC).
The facility was inaugurated by Prof Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of the Medical College, Aga Khan University, East Africa, in the presence of university leaders, including Prof Jane Rarieya, Vice Provost for Quality Teaching and Learning and Interim Dean of the Institute for Educational Development (IED) East Africa, Prof Arnold Mwanzu, Regional Librarian East Africa, as well as faculty, staff, and residents.
The DSC is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening teaching, learning, research, and knowledge dissemination. Designed as a hub for creativity and innovation, the center provides students, researchers, and faculty with access to modern digital tools and professional support services that enhance scholarly communication and content creation.
Speaking during the inauguration, Prof Atwoli highlighted the transformative role of the center in advancing scholarship across the region.
“The DSC is more than a physical space. It is a platform for creativity, innovation, knowledge generation, and collaboration. It reflects our commitment to equipping scholars with the tools and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.”
The DSC supports the AKU Libraries Strategic Plan 2025-2029, which envisions libraries as active partners in knowledge creation, preservation, and dissemination. Through this initiative, the library expands its traditional role beyond providing access to information by enabling the production and sharing of digital scholarship in diverse formats.
Recognizing the evolving nature of research and education, the center offers facilities and expertise in graphic design, multimedia production, photography, videography, scientific poster development, studio production, and digital content creation. These services will enable scholars to communicate research findings more effectively, enrich teaching and learning experiences, and engage wider audiences.
The launch also advances AKU's vision of building a connected digital scholarship ecosystem across its campuses. The DSC model has been successfully implemented in Karachi and adapted in Nairobi. Tanzania now joins this growing network, with Uganda expected to be the next campus to establish a center. This regional approach will facilitate the sharing of expertise, training opportunities, technologies, and best practices, strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange across East Africa.
Prof Atwoli acknowledged the dedication and teamwork that made the project possible, recognizing the contributions of the Tanzania library team led by Dr Jackline Kiwelu, the Finance and ICT departments, other institutional units, and the continued support of Aga Khan Hospital, Tanzania.
“The success we celebrate today is a testament to teamwork, resilience, and a shared commitment to serving our students and faculty,” he noted.
The inauguration complemented ongoing developments within the AKU Library under the leadership of Prof Ruggajo and the library team. Recent enhancements include upgraded learning environments, expanded study spaces, and improved academic services designed to better support students, residents, researchers, faculty, and staff.
As the Digital Scholarship Center begins operations, it represents AKU's continued investment in innovation, academic excellence, and the future of digital scholarship, positioning the University as a leader in advancing research and knowledge creation across East Africa.
