University natural resources industry linkage activities to enhance quality of education: the case of University of Dar es Salaam and Ardhi University

This research assessed the lecturers’ perceptions on the effects of linkage between University and natural resource extracting industry on enhancing the quality of education in higher learning institutions. Researcher used survey research design in which questionnaire instrument used to gather lecturers’ opinions. Survey strategy enabled Researcher to use sample to generate findings that are representative of the whole population. The collected data analyze by using descriptive statistic method in which the independent sample t-test used to compare the opinion mean of respondents. The key observation of finding are the UIL activities perceived to have overall highest contribution on enhancing innovation which are joint or cooperative research projects with industry which, research carried out for local companies by faculty members and collaboration between university and industry in arranging short courses. Both universities and companies in the natural resource industry should collaborate in UIL activities like student internships in companies, practical training of students in industry premises and joint projects between students and industry to enhance employability. Also they should collaborate in UIL activities of joint or cooperative research projects with industry, research for local companies carried out by faculty members and collaboration between university and industry in arranging short courses to enhance innovation.