President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has urged higher education students to prepare for a world that demands more than academic credentials, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, discipline, patriotism, humanity, curiosity, and the ability to collaborate across cultural, professional, and national boundaries.
President Samia made these remarks today in Moscow after receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) in recognition of her contribution to educational development, international cooperation, and friendship among nations. She described the honour as a recognition of the central role of education in social and economic transformation, as well as of the longstanding relationship between Tanzania and Russia, which has helped nurture generations of professionals who have contributed to the development of both countries.
“In a rapidly changing world, our responsibility is to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity needed to thrive in a knowledge-based economy,” President Samia said. She further noted that Tanzania has placed education, science, technology, and innovation at the heart of the National Development Vision 2050.
She highlighted the Samia Scholarship programme, which continues to expand educational opportunities for talented young Tanzanians in strategic fields. Launched in 2023, the programme has already benefited more than 5,000 students and is now focused on areas including data science, artificial intelligence, medicine, engineering, oil and gas, and environmental technologies. RUDN leadership praises Tanzania-Russia cooperation RUDN University President, Professor Vladimir Mikhaylovich Filippov, stated that the Honorary Doctorate awarded to President Samia is reserved for leaders who have made exceptional contributions to strengthening peace, friendship, and cooperation among nations.
“The decision of the University Council is a recognition of Her Excellency’s significant contribution to advancing relations between Tanzania and Russia and fostering friendship between the peoples of our nations,” Professor Filippov said. He added that Tanzania is one of RUDN’s key partners in Africa and that the decision to confer the degree on President Samia was approved unanimously by the University Council through a secret ballot held on 16 March 2026. The Rector of RUDN University, Professor Oleg Yastrebov, also underscored Tanzania’s special place in the university’s history and cooperation in Africa.
“Cooperation between RUDN and Tanzanian universities is entering a new phase with even greater opportunities in education, research, and innovation,” Professor Yastrebov said. He noted that Tanzanians have been studying at RUDN since the university’s establishment in 1960 and that current collaboration continues to expand through joint research initiatives and human resource development programmes.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Tanzania and Russia signed three cooperation agreements in higher education, including two joint degree programmes between the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) and RUDN University in Statistics, Aerospace Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
