About SEKOMU
Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University History
This statement reflects the core of the uniqueness and beauty of SEKOMU which began as a constituent university college, SEKUCo, under Tumaini University on 28th October 2007. Almost five years later, i.e., on 30th September 2012, the Tanzania Commission for Universities granted SEKUCo permission to transform into a fully fledged university, SEKOMU.
The main campus of SEKOMU is located in the village of Magamba, Lushoto district. In January 2012 and October 2014, teaching centres were opened in Tanga City and Bumbuli respectively. SEKOMU is a private university owned by the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (NED-ELCT). It was the first university to be opened in Tanga region. The name of the institution derives from Rt. Rev. Dr. Sebastian Ignatius Kolowa (1933-1992), the first African Bishop of the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.
The impact of studying at this university should be visible in your own life and in the way you view, treat and work with everyone, particularly those who are disadvantaged. SEKUCo was started with the purpose of training people who will have the intellectual, practical, emotional and spiritual readiness of serving the society, starting with those who are at the bottom of the social pyramid. Everywhere, there is a need of teachers, educators, administrators, lawyers, natural resource managers, engineers, health workers, entrepreneurs, researchers and other professionals who have a mindset that drives them to carry out their duties in ways that empower people affected by physical, sensory, mental, emotional, social and economical barriers. Even after evolving into SEKOMU, the motto “Acquire Knowledge, Serve with Compassion” continues to guide students studying Education, Law, Nature Conservation, Eco-tourism, Mental Health & Rehabilitation, Theology, Clinical Medicine, Business Administration and Computer Science. Therefore, the knowledge acquired at SEKOMU should first and foremost transform YOU!
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The University has staff members committed to equip the students with quality education and transform them into well groomed professionals ready to serve and empower people who are marginalised. About 80 academic staff members, ranging from Tutorial Assistants to Professors, are working at SEKOMU. In the academic year 2013/2014, the SEKOMU Council promoted two senior lecturers to the academic rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Joseph K. Mbatia, an acknowledged expert in the field of Mental Health and Rehabilitation, was promoted to the rank of associate professor on 11th April 2014. Almost five months later, i.e., on 6th September 2014, Dr. Edward T. T. Bagandanshwa, a long-time senior lecturer in the field of Special Education, became the first blind associate professor teaching at a university in Eastern and Central Africa. Certainly, disability is not
inability!
Between 2010 and 2013, a total of 846 students were awarded degrees and certificates by Tumaini University (Makumira) under SEKUCo. On 7th December, 2013, over 540 students graduated for the first time under Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (SEKOMU) in the fields of Special Education, Law, Eco-tourism and Nature Conservation. At SEKOMU’s 2nd graduation held on 22nd November 2014, degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded to a total of 612 graduands. On that occasion, SEKOMU made history as it became the first university in Tanzania to award the degree of Master of Education in Special Education to 9 women and 6 men. The Martti Ahtisaari 75 Scholarship Fund was instrumental in enabling this programme to have a smooth beginning. By training Master degree holders, SEKOMU now makes it possible for universities and colleges in Tanzania to get Assistant Lecturers knowledgeable in the field of Special Education who have been trained within the country!
Within the coming three years, new programmes are to be started at Diploma, Bachelors, Master and Ph.D levels. These include Diploma in
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Business Administration, Diploma in Computer Science, Diploma in Education, Diploma in Clinical Medicine, Bachelor of Science with Education, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts with Education, Bachelor of Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education, Master of Science in Nature Conservation and Management, Master of Law in Natural Resources’ Law, Master of Arts in Speech and Language Pathology (in collaboration with Hannover University) and Ph.D in Special Education. A department of short courses will be opened to offer tailor- made courses such as Kiswahili for Beginners, Sign Language Interpretation and Medical related courses (in collaboration with Amani Research Centre of the National Institute for Medical Research).
SEKOMU is also deeply involved in community services. The Institute of Diaconic Studies (IDS) that began in 2010 has around 50 volunteers, mostly students. It supports people in surrounding villages affected by long-term illnesses, widows, orphans and persons with disabilities. This institute also offers short courses to community workers.
Recently, a learning and therapy unit for girls and boys with disabilities, Upendo SEKOMU, was opened by Irente Rainbow Outreach programme within Magamba Campus. This unit is being served together with surrounding primary and secondary schools as well as the Irente Institutions.
The Institute of Justice and Peace (IJP) was opened in 2012. It offers civic education to community members and their leaders, and arranges interfaith forums to encourage dialogue and joint action among groups
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with different religious affiliation. Together with the ELCT, this institute prepared an International Consultative Conference on Land Justice for Sustainable Peace in Tanzania in September, 2013. The Conference led to the formation of Tanzania Land Forum which was launched on 4th February 2014. SEKOMU is a resource centre of that forum and has already prepared and conducted several workshops and one international conference.
A project titled Sharing Environmental Information for Rural Development (SHEIRUDE) has been conducted under the Department of Eco-tourism and Nature Conservation. The aim is to involve people living in Magamba area in preserving the endemic, indigenous and exotic organisms for the benefit of their own livelihoods. The project has been conducted in collaboration with Sokoine University of Agriculture and Catholic University Leuven (Belgium). The challenge of climate change is increasingly being felt, yet community members might not be aware of the role they can play in reversing the processes that threaten the eco-systems. Risk management works best when adapted to local circumstances, combining local knowledge with scientific expertise.
SEKOMU is also seeking to provide national media corporations with sign language interpretation services in order to enable deaf people in Tanzania to access information in Sign Language. It is not possible to talk about having harmony with fellow human beings and all creation if there are people who remain excluded from full participation in the life of their own communities. Access to information is a basic human right and SEKOMU is prepared not only to advocate for the necessity of deaf people to get information in a language they understand but also to show the way.
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Collaborations with local and foreign organisations are given high priority to enhance learning, research and community services. SEKOMU has signed over 20 collaboration agreements with universities, university colleges, institutes, foundations and professional associations. These include the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), CHAVITA, Niilo Maki Institute, Asante Africa Foundation, universities and other organisations in Tanzania, USA and Europe.
SEKOMU earns its positive reputation from the performance of graduates who take the mission of changing the livelihoods of marginalised people seriously and include them in all spheres of life. The graduates of this university are already acting as role models wherever they are placed, presenting themselves as scholars who know what true service is. At SEKOMU, we are not only focusing on what you are supposed to learn. Equal importance is accorded to how you are going to use your knowledge. May the uniqueness and beauty of SEKOMU, both internal and external, mould you so that you’ll be ready to serve with compassion after finishing your studies!
SEKOMU Courses Offered
SEKOMU Prospectus
SEKOMU Diploma and Certificate in Clinical Medicine Admissions
SEKOMU Basic Tech Certificate in Community Health Admissions
SEKOMU Accommodation
SEKOMU Library
SEKOMU Grading System