Prof. Elifas Tozo Bisanda is the Vice Chancellor of The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) since 2015.
The Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Spokesperson of the University and shall be responsible to the Council for implementation of the decisions of the Council as guided by the OUT Rolling Strategic Plan.
The Open University of Tanzania has had over the past twenty-four years three Vice Chancellors who had varied academic and administrative experience. Prior to their appointment, all had been academic staff who were well vested with University operations and management.
Before his appointment in 2015, Prof. Bisanda, who is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(Regional Services) for two (2) years, then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) for a period of six (6) years at the Open University of Tanzania.
Prof. Bisanda holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Bath, UK (1991), an M.Sc. in Metallurgical Engineering from Cranfield University UK (1984), and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam (1981). He is also a Registered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Tanzania. He is also a fellow of the Tanzania Academy of Sciences (TAAS).
Prof Bisanda is the Chairman of the Governing Council for the Institute of Adult Education in Tanzania. He is also the Chairman of the Council of Morogoro Vocational Teachers Training College. He is a member of the University of Arusha Council and the Tanzania Police Training Board.
He has accumulated years of experience in strategic planning, partnership development, negotiation skills, personnel management, resource mobilization, Institutional management, academic audit, quality
assurance, photography, and desktop publishing. He is also an expert in renewable energy, has done research work related to micro-hydro-power, biogas,wind-power, solar-power, and zero emission, and has published more than 50 papers in journals and conference proceedings.
Prof. Bisanda is a strong supporter and promoter of Open and Distance Learning and has been instrumental in the strategic development of ICT mediated learning and management at the Open University of Tanzania. Prof Bisanda is married with five children. His appointment as Vice-Chancellor of OUT comes at a time when the university needs a dynamic leader of his caliber, to consolidate the progress made by the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tolly S.Mbwette.
Prof. Elifas Tozo Bisanda
Vice Chancellor