Classical economists attribute labor as a significant input in the production function. A timely refinement of the function is desired to bring more sense in tandem to the growing economic growth complexities. This role is therefore far much easier done as the number of higher learning institutions is in the increase

Tumaini University, Iringa University College (IUCo) considers establishing an entrepreneurship centre as in alignment to its vision of taking a business lead that parallels to the Development Vision 2005, Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP) whose acronym in Swahili is MKUKUTA.

Tumaini University Center for Entrepreneurship (TU-CED) is essentially a one-stop capacity building shop roofing training, research and consultancy to be tailored to the community. This endeavor is synchronous to the government effort in improving economic growth and reduces poverty.

While entrepreneurship is seen as a catalytic force that is capable of inculcating entrepreneurial behavior in the economic; there has been seemingly a naïve understanding of it on the part of the community including the policy makers. As such growth in small businesses has rarely surpassed to large business organizations. In the worst sense; the survival of small business is fraught with limitations. The centre is therefore intended to increase the supply of entrepreneurs in the economy; cognizant to an understanding that entrepreneurship recognizes an entrepreneur as an agent of change who brings together resources to produce a community or service.

The contribution and strategic importance of small business enterprises in the economic cannot be over-emphasized. Nonetheless entrepreneurship as a function of entrepreneurs has not received a due recognition in practice. Perhaps, scant research activities on the area seem to attribute to this deficiency. Thus launching an entrepreneurship centre is purported to provide seedbeds for indigenous entrepreneurship to crystallize the growth of small business enterprises into corporate ventures for economic growth and consequently poverty reduction.

In 2006/2007 a team of experts from Tumaini University at Iringa and Maastricht School of Management under the Netherlands Programme for Training (NPT) project surveyed the six regions of the Southern Zone of Tanzania (SZT) and identified investment areas and training opportunities in order to promote SMEs and agribusiness in the zone. During the survey it was found necessary to launch an entrepreneurial center that objectively integrates and coordinates the entrepreneurial career to economic necessity.

TU-CED is essential to implement the IUCo strategic vision, mission and sustainability objective. At the national level the CED will support the government efforts and policies for poverty reduction, job creation and economic development. TU-CED will substantially support our national role for new venture creation, entrepreneurism and economic development promotion. The main goal is to facilitate the growth of entrepreneurs in urban and rural areas of SZT focusing on Business Development.

• Vision

TU-CED vision is to be a focal center for entrepreneurship and economic development in the Southern Zone of Tanzania (SZT).

• Mission

The TU-CED mission is to link the university and the stakeholders from the Southern Zone of Tanzania through participatory approach for providing practical solutions to common challenges facing the business and agribusiness community for socio-economic developmen

• Short term courses in entrepreneurship for students, staff members and the communities in the Southern Zone of Tanzania (SZT)
• Improvement of entrepreneurship training in other institutions
• Offer training opportunities on regular basis
• Capacity building through Training of Trainers (TOT)
• Develop entrepreneurship mindset among community members

• Entrepreneurship for Business Administrators
• Agribusiness, Access to Market and Value Chain
• Community Entrepreneurship (Food Security projects & Community Business Accelerators )
• Entrepreneurship for smallholder farmers and business owners
• Entrepreneurship Skills for Educators (Target group: Institutions of higher learning in SZT)
• Youth Entrepreneurship for SZT (YES Program), (Entrepreneurship interventions for Secondary and Primary Schools in SZT)

The Centre establishes partnership with community members, private and public organizations in areas featuring business consultancy, capacity building and research.

• One stop center for SMEs, agribusiness and other business related information
• Establish a sustainable SZT business database
• Establish Networks with businesses

• Hire TU-CED as a consultant
• Fund a project
• Sponsor our community training programs
• Be a consultant
• Micro-Venture Capitalist program
• Donate to the center

• Training in Mtwara/Lindi - November 2008
• Training in Mbeya - November/December 2008
• Training in Songea - Ruvuma, Nov/December, 2008
• Business and Economic Development in Southern Zone of Tanzania workshop - January 2009 in Dar es Salaam