AABD launches first mentoring program with UDBS (Tanzania)

• Post by: Gilbert
• February 1, 2021
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Academy of African Business and Development (AABD) and University of Dar Es Salaam Business School (UDBS) have launched a new external doctoral mentoring program. The AABD-UDBS Mentoring Program pairs up UDBS doctoral business students with willing mentors from AABD and focuses on advancing the doctoral students’ professional career goals. The matching is based on the professional skills the mentee wants to acquire and the mentor has to offer. The mentee is asked to identify or develop a specific set of objectives he or she would like to accomplish; these objectives form the basis of the mentor-mentee relationship.  Of note, the AABD-UDBS Mentoring Program does not seek to replace or interfere with the internal doctoral student-UDBS faculty relationship; rather, the program seeks to augment it. Thus, the external mentor only provides guidance if needed and informal advice, as well as extends the doctoral student’s academic reach. In an era of COVID-19 pandemic, virtually linking emerging scholars in Africa with established scholars around the world is a sine qua non.

Founded in 1998 and comprised of scholars and business practitioners, AABD has established itself as one of the world’s leading organizations committed to fostering functional education, deepening global understanding of various challenges facing African business and development, as well as advancing alternative solutions to Africa’s business and economic challenges. In contrast, UDBS is one of top business schools in Africa and offers a highly regarded doctoral program where students not only benefit from the extraordinary expertise of its own faculty members but can also rely on the resources and expertise of several national and international partners.

Thus far, seven doctoral students have signed up for this program and are mentored by Professor Olusegun Felix Ayadi, Texas Southern University, USA; Professor William K. Darley, University of Toledo (emeritus), USA; Professor Norma Juma, Washburn University, USA.; Professor Jacob Musila, Athabasca University, Canada; Professor Aihie Osarenkhoe, University of Gavle, Sweden; Professor Robert Rugimbana, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa; and Professor Simon Sigué, Athabasca University, Canada.

According to Professor William K. Darley, Chair of AABD’s Professional Development Committee who led the development of this program, “This is an opportunity for established African scholars to connect with emerging scholars from Africa, to share knowledge and experience in helping with their professional development and career goals, as well as to give back to the continent.”

UDBS Dean, Professor Ulingeta Mbamba, has high expectations of this initiative and adds that “We are very sure that the program will not only enhance the quality of our PhD programs by producing PhD holders with international exposure but also establish international research networks between our PhD holders/students, their supervisors and renowned international scholars.”