Ardhi University (ARU), through the Institute of Building Research (IBR), hosted a landmark Dissemination Workshop themed 'Innovations in Sustainable Construction: Transforming Research into Cost-Effective Housing Solutions.
Held on November 6, 2026, the workshop established a collaborative platform to share recent research findings, showcase alternative building materials, and explore practical construction technologies.
Speaking during the official opening on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Postgraduate Studies, Research, and Publications, Dr. Yasini Senkondo, emphasized the critical importance of the workshop. He noted that rapid urbanization and the growing demand for decent shelter require innovative solutions that lower construction costs while maintaining structural quality and environmental sustainability.
“Research must start with real needs. Innovation must stand on solid evidence. Collaboration must lead to real action." Said Dr. Senkondo.
He further emphasized the importance of exploring alternative building materials and low-cost construction methods that are both reliable and environmentally friendly.
Speaking during the session, Dr. Upendo Matotola, the Director of Real Estate at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to promote cost-effective housing by encouraging the local production of alternative building materials and backing grassroots research. “Researchers should take their work to the local communities that need affordable solutions to improve their housing conditions, rather than allowing research findings to remain locked away in books and libraries.” Dr. Matotola said.
The workshop aligned public, private, and research stakeholders on adopting innovative construction materials. Participants included the Ministry of Works, the National Housing Corporation (NHC), the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), experts from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Twiga Cement, Group Six Limited, the Ifakara Health Institute, and the University of Oxford, who discussed the commercialization and regulation of these materials.
Dr. Jacob Kihila, Director of the Institute of Building Research (IBR), urged engineers, architects, and urban planners to drive innovation in sustainable construction. Concluding the workshop, he called for immediate joint research, demonstration houses, shared testing facilities, and unified policies to bridge the gap between academia, regulation, and everyday construction practices across Tanzania
Through this dissemination initiative, Ardhi University (ARU) reaffirms its leadership in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer. The university remains committed to accelerating affordable, safe, and eco-friendly housing solutions across Tanzania.
Kiswahili
