Recently, the Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering of Sokoine University of Agriculture, School of Engineering and Technology received a new and modern equipments worth more than 83,000 Euros (equivalent to more than TSh. 224.4 Million) from the government of the United Republic of Tanzania through the Ministry of Education with the aim of improving practical training for students. The equipment includes Triaxial test equipment, Drying Oven device, Weighing Balance and Compression Machine among others.
Dr. Paul Reuben explains how Triaxial test equipment works to measure soil characteristics to determine its ability to withstand a load on it such as buildings
Commenting on the equipment, a senior technologist from the department, Dr. Paul Reuben said the availability of such equipment will increase operational efficiency in teaching, research, management of development projects and provision of professional advice for both public and private sectors.
"We are very grateful to the Government led by Hon. Samia Suluhu Hassan for giving priority to practical training, this will equip our students with the best skills and knowledge that will help them become self-employed when they graduate”, said Dr Reuben.
Dr. Reuben said the acquisition of the equipment is the beginning of strengthening the Department which they also plan to establish a special laboratory that will be used for testing various construction materials within the laboratory and on the site where the construction take place.
"In the beginning our students were forced to travel to other universities such as the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) for practical training while other students were forced to do their studies in theory instead of practical", explained Dr Reuben.
Apart from learning and research purposes, the equipment will also be used to identify areas where the soil is suitable for the construction of dams, irrigation canals, roads and buildings.
Triaxial test equipment
Dr. Paul Reuben explains how a Drying Oven device for soil samples works
Weighing Balance: a device for measuring the weight of small objects up to 210 grams
Compression Machine: A device for measuring the quality of bricks and concrete for construction
The Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering is one of the new Departments established in July 2021 following the implementation of the Restructuring of Management System and Organization Structure of Sokoine University of Agriculture where the former Department of Engineering Science and Technology merged with the former Department of Food Science and Technology both from the College of Agriculture to form the School of Engineering and Technology (SoET).
The School is made up of three Departments namely; the Department of Agricultural Engineering; the Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering; and the Department of Food Science and Ago-processing.
Story and Photo by: Ms. Amina Hezron, SUAMEDIA
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