The Directorate of Postgraduate Studies, Research, Technology Transfer and Consultancy (DPRTC) coordinates postgraduate education, research, innovation, and consultancy at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). It ensures academic excellence, technological advancement, and sustainable impact through effective support to students, staff, and research partners.
Postgraduate Studies and Supervision
DPRTC oversees the admission, supervision, examination, and graduation of all postgraduate students across SUA. It ensures that programmes meet national and international quality standards through continuous review of curricula and regulations.
A total of 69 postgraduate programmes and the Postgraduate Studies Regulations have been revised to improve relevance and quality. The Directorate also organizes training on research proposal writing, supervision, and academic publishing to strengthen student and staff capacity.
Through mentorship and academic counselling, DPRTC supports postgraduate students to complete their studies on time and to develop as independent researchers and innovators ready to address Tanzania’s agricultural, environmental, and technological challenges.
Research and Institutional Partnerships
Research is at the heart of DPRTC’s mandate. The Directorate coordinates and promotes projects that respond to national priorities and global challenges in agriculture, environment, food systems, health, and technology.
It manages the SUA Research and Innovation Support (SUARIS) fund, implements the SUA Research Agenda (2025–2035), and strengthens collaboration through major initiatives such as:
- Oliver Tambo Research Chair in Food Security.
- ACE II Centre for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology (IRPM & BT).
- REFOREST Programme (Regional Education and Research for Forest Landscape Restoration).
DPRTC also facilitates proposal development, ethical clearance, research dissemination, and data management. Through these efforts, SUA continues to expand its research portfolio and international visibility.
Key donors include: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), European Union, Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), The Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Sokoine University of Agriculture, Federal Republic of Germany, DANIDA, RUFORUM, Global Health EDCTP3, University of Leeds – International Strategy Fund (ISF), Adaptation Fund, APNRF-African Plant Nutrition Research Fund, Fair Planet, Tanzania Food Nutrition Centre (TFNC), The Germany Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture-BMEL, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), AICS, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), GCBC, VLIR-UOS, Germany Government, AICAD, JICA, BBSRC and Newton Fund (UK), ACP-EDULINKII – EU, IDRC-Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Royal Museum of Central Africa, RMCA, The Kirk House Trust, IDS, National Academy of Science, Norwegian Research Council, SWISSCONTACT, Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).
Technology Transfer, Innovation and IP Management
The Directorate transforms SUA’s research outputs into practical technologies, innovations, and market-ready products. It supports researchers and students in protecting intellectual property, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and industrial designs, and coordinates their registration and commercialization.
The SUA Innovation Hub, managed under DPRTC, provides space and mentorship for innovators to develop prototypes, register patents, and launch start-ups. It links researchers, students, and entrepreneurs with investors and industry partners, accelerating the translation of research into real-world solutions.
The Hub promotes student-led innovation, organizes hackathons and exhibitions, and plays a key role in implementing SUA’s Strategic Plan by strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
Consultancy and Professional Services
DPRTC oversees all consultancy assignments to ensure quality, transparency, and professional standards. It works through specialized units that serve different sectors, that includes:
- BACAS – Bureau for Agricultural Consultancy and Advisory Services (College of Agriculture).
- FORCONSULT – Forestry Consultancy Unit (College of Forestry, Wildlife and Tourism).
- VETCONSULT – Veterinary Consultancy Unit (College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences).
- SoE CONSULT – Consultancy Unit under the School of Education (SoE).
- AB-CONSULT – Consultancy Unit under the College of Economics and Business Studies (CoEBS).
These units provide expert services to government institutions, development partners, and private clients, contributing directly to national development and policy implementation.
Strategic Alignment and Impact
All activities of the DPRTC align with the SUA Corporate Strategic Plan (2021–2030), particularly Goal 2, that’s is to increase the volume and quality of research, publications and innovations.
Each year, SUA produces an average of about 500 scientific publications and manages approximately 120 active research projects, reflecting the University’s expanding research visibility and productivity.
Through this alignment, DPRTC continues to enhance SUA’s research culture, publication output, innovation capacity, and global reputation. Its integrated approach—combining postgraduate training, research coordination, technology transfer, and consultancy—ensures that knowledge generated at SUA translates into tangible solutions for communities and industries.
Key Reference Documents include:
- SUA Research Agenda (2025–2035)
- SUA Research and Innovation Support (SUARIS) Guidelines
- Postgraduate Studies Regulations (2025)
- SUA Consultancy Policy (2021) and Guidelines.
DPRTC remains committed to fostering a vibrant postgraduate community, expanding interdisciplinary research, and promoting innovation-driven solutions. Through collaboration, mentorship, and technology transfer, the Directorate positions SUA as a regional leader in research excellence and sustainable development.