Should Mzumbe University be transformed into Mzumbe University 4.0?

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR) is already under way. The potential disruption of the FIR on the university mission is described. Initial steps, which Mzumbe University could take should it wish to evolve into a university relevant to the FIR (University 4.0) are proposed. Given the uncertainty surrounding the evolution of the FIR, which has relevance to university evolution, a proposal on the use of Foresight in university strategic planning under uncertainty is made. The question in this paper is contextualized within the reality that, universities in Tanzania need to undergo a digital transformation if they are to succeed in playing the leadership roles expected of them in defining the contents of the FIR that are relevant to Tanzania and if universities are to articulate development and industrialization strategies needed if Tanzania is to expand its industrialization strategy to include industrialization in the sense of the FIR.