Benchmarking Visit to Higher Education Institutions (HLIs)

During the period under review, the Directorate of Students’ Services, in collaboration with the ICT Unit, organised a benchmarking visit to three HLIs to learn best practices in the management of students’ health insurance coverage.

The institutions visited were:

• Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) – 13^th August 2025
• Mzumbe University – 14^th August 2025
• University of Dodoma (UDOM) – 15^th August 2025

These institutions were carefully selected because they have consistently demonstrated effective systems in the management of student health insurance, including awareness creation, registration procedures, ICT integration, payment enforcement, and the administration of exemptions and waivers.

Engagement Approach

The benchmarking exercise involved structured discussions with key officers at each institution. The engagement was designed to capture both technical insights and administrative practices that support efficient student health insurance management.

Lessons Learned

The following key lessons were drawn from the benchmarking exercise:

1. ICT Integration: Effective integration of ICT reduces administrative burdens; however, it must be supported by accurate data entry to prevent control number errors.
2. Multi-Stage Communication: Providing information at various stages (admission, orientation, and before examinations) is critical in ensuring compliance among students.
3. Payment Enforcement: Linking NHIF payments to essential academic processes, such as registration and examinations, significantly improves enforcement levels.
4. Institutional Accountability: Clear responsibility for waiver and exemption approvals must be established and communicated to students to avoid delays and confusion.

The benchmarking visits provided valuable insights into practical and sustainable strategies for managing students’ health insurance. The lessons learned will guide the College in strengthening its NHIF management framework for the academic year 2025/2026 and beyond, ensuring that student health matters are effectively addressed.