ARDHI UNIVERSITY

The Institute of Human Settlements Studies (IHSS) is a directorate under Ardhi University. It was founded in 1979 as the Centre for Housing Studies (CHS), a joint programme between the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Netherlands. CHS was renamed Centre for Human Settlements Studies (CHSS) in 1992. In 1996, CHSS was transformed into the Institute for Housing Studies and Building Research (IHSBR), following Ardhi Institute’s affiliation with the University of Dar es Salaam. Two years later, the Institute was renamed the Institute of Human Settlements Studies (IHSS). Since its founding, the IHSS has grown into a multidisciplinary academic unit specializing in both basic and applied research. It also provides postgraduate training as well as public services across a variety of disciplines in human settlements.

Goal

To contribute to the improvement of human settlements, living conditions, and the quality of life for all people in urban and rural areas of Tanzania. This will be achieved through research, consultancy services, training, and dissemination of research findings through publications, conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposia on human settlement development issues.

Vision Statement

To become a centre of excellence and a nucleus of research on human settlements development, planning and management, as well as a hub for symposia addressing human settlements development issues at national, regional and global levels within the context of Ardhi University’s vision.

Mission Statement

To contribute to the improvement of living conditions and the quality of life for the people in rural and urban settlements, through the advancement of applied and basic research, training and consultancy services.

Functions of the Institute are:

1. Conduct research in the fields of human settlements development;
2. Provide consultancy  and public services in the fields of housing and human settlements development;
3. Organize short-term, tailor-made and long-term training courses for practitioners working in the fields of human settlements development and management, with the ultimate aim of improving their technical and administrative competence, knowledge and performance; and
4. Offer postgraduate programs leading to professional and scientific awards, through a modular approach, in the fields of human settlements development, planning and management, public policy and programme management, urban governance, climate change studies and environmental studies.