Tanzania Commission for Universities TCU established under the University Act Cap 346 of the laws of Tanzania. The specific functions of the TCU as provided in Section 5(1)(d) of the Universities Act (Cap.346), 2005 stating “to collect, examine, store in data-base or data-bank and publish information relating to higher education, research and consultancy”. In the TCU Rolling strategic Plan 2020/21- 2024/25, the Strategic Objectives SO9 no. S9.3: “Increase public access to higher education information resources”. TCU in fulfilling this objective, embarked on the establishing of Information Resource Centre (TCU-IRC) 

Initiative to establish the modern TCU -Information Resource Centre (TCU-IRC) started in 2014 under Nuffic TIMBE project called “Harmonization of and Alignment of Business Studies in Higher Education in Tanzania”. The Timbe project was a 4-year project and the Institutions to benefit included TCU, Mzumbe University, and Iringa Universities. The project was coordinated by an International Consortium consisting of the University of Groningen (UoG) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The aim of the project was to strengthen, modernize, and transform the TCU Documentation centre into Modern TCU Resource Centre which will be a focal point for all information (in both printed and electronic formats) and other services related to higher education in Tanzania. 

The establishment of the Centre was based on the increase on demand for information on higher education by the stakeholders, current developments in science and technology which lead to behaviour change in seeking of information by Higher Education stakeholders, and the Information Need Assessment Survey which was conducted in 2014 to determine existing information gaps in the provision of information on Higher Education in Tanzania. Also, the need to establish the IRC was based on the expectation that, the IRC will not only cater for stakeholder’s information needs but also to support TCU’s routine undertakings as well as provide greater visibility and accessibility of TCU intellectual asset over time. The intent was to develop a high breed collection with both print and electronic information resources. 

The TCU-IRC is a one stop centre that offers a high breed collection of information resources on Higher Education Management and Governance. Other collection of particular interest to our stakeholders include; Accreditation, Quality Assurance, Curriculum development and evaluation, Gender and Women, Teaching and Learning, ICT, Knowledge Management, Research Methodology, Marketing, Law, Policy, Guideline, Finance, Admission and Statistics in Higher Education. It is designated to serve the organization and the general public including academicians, researchers and stakeholders in the Higher Education sub-sector. The centre has a total of 5,500 Text books and other reports on Higher Education Management and Governance. It constitutes an Online library, Off line library, Internally Generated Reports, a selection of Online Databases, the Digital Repository etc. Also we have a collection of reference and lending books, various reports, as well as news paper clipping or press cuttings on issues relating to Higher Education in Tanzania. Facilities available includes Computers, Internet, OPAC, Photocopy, Printing and Conducive reading environment including newspaper reading area. 

TCU-IRC Key Stakeholders are both external and Internal whereas the External stakeholders include Universities community, Professional Boards, Students, Parents, Education Sector Regulators, Researchers, Academicians and Higher Education stakeholders; while Internal User includes TCU staff and members of the Commission. TCU-IRC operating follows government working hours i.e Opening hours for physical visits are from Monday to Friday 08:00hrs to 15:30hrs. But the online services are for 2400hrs. The centre is closed on public holidays and weekends for physical visits. The centre is open to all members of the public particular stakeholders of Higher Education and it provides access to the information such as Bibliographic and abstract information which can be accessed online via the OPAC but physical documents can be accessed through physical visit the centre, and the full-text information materials are available via our Digital Repository (TCU-Institutional Repository).