The University of Dar es salaam Convocation comprises the
- Vice-Chancellor,
- the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics),
- all members of the academic staff,
- all persons who are graduates of the University of East Africa,
- all persons who become graduates of the University of Dar es Salaam , and
- any such persons as the Chancellor may appoint as members of the Convocation.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) is the Secretary to the Convocation. The Convocation is led by a President, who is elected by the members.
The Convocation has an Executive Committee which is the Executive Organ Chaired by the President. This committee is responsible for carrying out the main functions of the Convocation. The Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Academic Officer and the Chief Administrative Officer of the University are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. Other members of the Executive Committee are elected every triennium, at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or nominated in between the election years, by the President of the Convocation where the situation demands. The Executive Committee’s work is supported by sub-committees, precisely embodying an Activities Sub-Committee and a Publications Sub-Committee.
The Convocation Activities Committee acts as the think tank of the Convocation. It conceives the activities and programmes which the Convocation should undertake and reports to the Executive Committee.
The Convocation Publications Committee on the other hand, oversees all activities pertinent to publication and dissemination of the Convocation Newsletter, the Journal called Dar Graduate Journal, books arising from proceedings of workshops, symposia, etc.
University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly is another Committee under the Convocation (UDASA). UDASA was established in August 1980 to provide a forum for members of the academic staff of the University of Dar es Salaam to collectively influence how the University of Dar es Salaam is governed as well as to act as the collective voice of the members of the academic staff on matters which impinged on their lives and work as academicians and as citizens and/or residents of Tanzania.
The Convocation has a full-time Liaison Officer employed by the University of Dar es salaam . The officer is responsible for the day to day affairs of the Convocation, ensuring that Convocation lives to the expectations of the members.
The Convocation annually organizes a General Meeting attended by all members, where issues of concern and relevance to the University and society are, discussed. Ordinarily, a panel discussion on a current topical issue precedes the formal Annual General Meeting. As a regular activity, the Convocation also organizes national symposia. In recent years, the Convocation has held symposia focusing on burning social and economic issues. The first one was on Crisis of Social Services Delivery in Tanzania . The proceedings have been published in a book edited by Professor Anna K. Tibaijuka. The second one was on The Multi – Dimensional Crisis of Education in Tanzania . The third one was on The State of Multy Party Politics in Tanzania :The Pitfalls and Lessons from 2000 General Election and the Way Forward. The Fourth one was on Why is Tanzania still Poor 40 Years after Independence . Book on the proceedings of the Symposium has been published.
The current President of the Convocation is Justice Joseph S. Warioba, (Since 28th November, 2003 ), an alumnus of the University of East Africa, (1962 – 1966), having graduated from the Faculty of Law, Dar es Salaam campus in 1966.