Francis Muya – Department of Management Sciences, National Institute of Transport, Tanzania

Email: ramamikina@gmail.com/ mgosimuya@gmail.com

Abstract: This study explores how industrial attachment enhances the technical, soft, and pedagogical skills of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teaching staff in Tanzania. It aims to provide insights into addressing the mismatch between TVET graduate competencies and industry needs. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting TVET teaching staff who were attached to industries from Arusha Technical College (ATC), National Institute of Transport (NIT) and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) – Mwanza Campus. The sample population included 63 TVET teaching staff who were purposely selected using the database of staff attached to the industries from 2020 to 2024. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, with quantitative analysis performed via descriptive statistics focusing on mean and standard deviation. Key findings show that industrial attachments greatly enhance technical skills and contribute positively to the development of soft skills, such as teamwork, as well as pedagogical skills among TVET teaching staff. The study recommends strengthening collaborations between TVET institutions and industries, increasing the participation of female TVET instructors in industrial attachments, and extending the duration of these attachments.