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This study was carried out in Dodoma Municipality particularly at villages surrounding the University of Dodoma (Ng’ong’ona and Makulu). The objective of the study was to assess the role of University of Dodoma in employment opportunities to the local community in Dodoma Municipality. A descriptive study with cross-sectional and research design was used in order to assess the role of University of Dodoma in employment opportunities to the local community in Dodoma Municipality. Questionnaires, In-depth interviews, focus group discussion and intensive documentary reviews were used for data collection purposes. Findings from this study observed that the role of UDOM in the neighbourhood communities is largely attributed on the demand from students, staff and visitors for local products or services. The student’s, staff’s, and visitor’s spending and budget in UDOM leads to well over $1 billion of sales in the Dodoma Municipality. In terms of jobs and earnings, over 15,900 jobs can be attributed to UDOM establishment. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there are many income generating activities which are run by local communities around area surrounding UDOM launched as a result of UDOM establishment. Most of the respondents (65%) agreed that these activities have been resulted from the establishment of UDOM. These economic activities have played a significant role in employing the local communities around UDOM. In running income generating activities local communities are facing with challenges like financial constraints, poor physical infrastructures, poor entrepreneurship education and skills among others. These challenges can be resolved through loans with low interest rates, realistic tax estimations, reasonable office rents, power & infrastructure improvement, pension funds to be encouraged, encouraging entrepreneurship/business management education, government subsides/incentives to boost private sector just to mention a few. Finally, the study recommended that the Tanzanian government, Non government Organizations, society organization and stakeholders should work together to create conducive employment infrastructures which can bring mutual benefits between the University of Dodoma and Surrounding communities. |
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