Diplomacy Journal Kim Tae Yeon | Ambassador Noel Emmanuel Kaganda of the United Republic of Tanzania in Seoul and the Tanzanian delegation visited the Korea Aerospace University (JAU) on September 2 to discuss ways to expand cooperation in education, research and talent development in the fields of aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), and science and technology.

The meeting was attended by Korea Aerospace University President Heeyoung Hur, the Director of External Affairs, and Distinguished Professor Lee Jin-sang.

The two sides agreed to pursue substantive cooperation projects encompassing education, research, and personnel exchanges, building upon the cooperative relationship established over the years.

President Heo said, “I look forward to a practical cooperation model for mutual growth.
President Heo then added, “Based on the foundation of cooperation we have built with Tanzania so far, I expect that we can pursue more concrete projects for education, research, and human resource exchange in the future.” Then he added, “I hope to create a practical cooperation model centered on the aviation sector that allows our two countries to grow together.”

Ambassador Kaganda, marking three months in office, introduced the Tanzanian government’s policy direction to strengthen cooperation with Korea in various fields, including science and technology and AI, and expressed his intention to actively support the development of bilateral cooperation into tangible projects.
Ambassador Kaganda also mentioned that President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania visited the Korea Aerospace University in June 2024 to receive an honorary doctorate.

He emphasized, “It has already been confirmed that Korea Aerospace University is the optimal partner for the development of Tanzania’s aerospace technology,” and added, “Now, the important thing is to put the cooperation foundation we have built into concrete projects.” He said, "The rising aviation demand requires cooperation for training professionals."

Ambassador Kaganda explained that demand for the aviation industry in Tanzania is rapidly increasing as airport construction and expansion continue, and the number of aircraft in operation and fleet grows. However, he noted that there is still a shortage of educational institutions and specialized training courses to systematically cultivate the professional workforce needed to meet this growing demand.

Then he said that the Tanzanian Embassy in Korea would act as a bridge between the two sides to facilitate prompt discussions on practical education and research cooperation programs with the Tanzanian Authority of Civil Aviation, with which Korea Aerospace University has signed a memorandum of understanding.
If cooperation materializes in the future, it is expected that joint educational courses and expert exchange programs can be expanded to include not only flight operations, aircraft maintenance, airport management, and aviation safety, but also drone and space technology fields.

Discussion on attracting Korea Aerospace University to Tanzania’s ‘Presidential Scholarship’ program:
During the meeting, the possibility of Korea Aerospace University participating in the Presidential Scholarship program for science and technology, recently established by the Tanzanian government, was also discussed as a major agenda item. The Presidential Scholarship Program is a system designed to cultivate future key talents by dispatching outstanding students in science and technology, selected through national examinations, to prestigious universities abroad.

Ambassador Kaganda expressed his intention to actively pursue plans to send scholarship students so that outstanding Tanzanian students can study at Korea Aerospace University.

In particular, he anticipated that utilizing KAUT’s specialized education and research infrastructure in aviation and space, as well as its educational capabilities in AI and cutting-edge science and technology, would help systematically cultivate the professional workforce that Tanzania needs.

If the study abroad program for Tanzanian students, including Presidential Scholars, at KAUT begins in earnest, there is a possibility that educational cooperation will expand beyond degree programs to various forms, such as short-term training, joint research, and faculty-student exchanges.

Touring A300 Aircraft and Educational Facilities, Interest in Field-Oriented Education:
After the meeting, Ambassador Kaganda and his delegation toured the A300 aircraft installed on campus and key educational facilities to examine KAUT’s aviation education environment and practical training system.
The Ambassador's delegation expressed deep interest in field-oriented education utilizing actual aircraft and the training process for aviation professionals.

Ambassador Kaganda stated that he would make active efforts to ensure that a delegation from Korea Aerospace University (KAUT) visit Tanzania in the near future to personally examine the local aviation industry and educational environment, and to discuss practical measures for exchange and cooperation between the two sides.

Expectations for Expanded Korea-Tanzania Educational Cooperation Centered on Aerospace, AI, and the Future:
KAUT expects that this visit will serve as an opportunity to further expand cooperation with Tanzania, focusing on talent development and educational and research exchanges in the fields of aerospace, AI, and science and technology.

In particular, attention is being paid to the potential for this to develop into industry-academia collaboration linking universities, research institutions, and the industrial sector, provided that the Tanzanian government's willingness to expand cooperation with Korea aligns with industrial and economic exchanges between the two countries.

Moving forward, both sides plan to concretize cooperation with the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority while establishing a foundation for sustainable education and research cooperation by progressively pursuing initiatives such as attracting Presidential Scholars, operating joint educational programs, exchanging researchers and students, and training local aviation professionals.