The Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project has benefitted the record keepers and Secretaries at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) by enabling them to travel to Zanzibar to attend training sessions alongside other Record Keepers and Secretaries from across Tanzania. This initiative was in response to the directive given by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, during one of her meetings with the association.

Through the HEET Project, SUA employees were able to participate in these training sessions, which aimed to enhance their skills and efficiency in their daily responsibilities.

Records and Archives Management Professionals from SUA

Among the beneficiaries is Ms. Asha Salum, a Record Keeper from SUA’s Mizengo Pinda Campus, Katavi who expressed that the HEET Project came at the right time and provided them with the means to afford the training fees in Zanzibar. The training has helped them build capacity, maintain integrity in handling government records and secrets, and learn about the cultures of others who gathered from various regions of the country.

Ms. Salum added that SUA recognized the importance of their full participation, and it is now their responsibility to put into practice what they have learned. Additionally, the university has a duty to grant permission for further academic development to increase professionals in this field, ultimately leading to the establishment of a department under their own management, separate from administrative officers.

Personal Secretaries professionals from SUA

On the other hand, Mr. Bernald Gereni, a Record Keeper from the Department of Human Resources and Administration at the Edward Moringe Sokoine Campus, expressed gratitude to SUA’s management for providing them with the opportunity to receive training and take an oath on record-keeping and safeguarding secrets. This includes upholding ethical principles and ensuring workplace safety. As a result, accountability and efficiency will increase after a year, as these are essential factors in any work environment.

During the closing ceremony of a four-day training session and the 2023 Annual General Meeting organized by the Tanzania Records and Archives Management Professionals Association (TRAMPA) and The Tanzania Personal Secretaries Association (TAPSEA) in Zanzibar on May 27, 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged employers to allow their employees to participate in such training programs and provide them with opportunities for further education to enhance work performance and job satisfaction.

SUA has wholeheartedly implemented this through the HEET Project.

The Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project has played a significant role in empowering record keepers and secretaries at SUA, enabling them to enhance their skills, professionalism, and overall contribution to their respective roles. With the support of the university and the commitment of its employees, the benefits of such initiatives are sure to create a positive impact on the nation’s workforce and economic growth.