Title: Mwongozo Smart: A Review of Intelligent Web-Based Decision Support and Chatbot Systems for University Admission and Student Loan Guidance.
Authors: Samwel Y. Mwakalinga, Albart V. Mwamalumbili, Moses K. Mwakitalu, Waziri Haji, Yohana Myinga, Unice Masanja, Yasinta Msuya, Zawadi Machaka
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 184-187
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
Access to higher education in developing countries is increasingly influenced by the availability of accurate, timely, and understandable guidance systems. In Tanzania, pre-university students face persistent challenges in selecting appropriate universities and understanding Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) application procedures due to fragmented information sources and complex regulatory documents issued by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). This review paper critically examines existing research on intelligent decision support systems, rule-based expert systems, educational chatbots, and web-based guidance platforms relevant to higher education admission and financing. Through a systematic synthesis of prior studies, this paper identifies key gaps in personalization, transparency, regulatory localization, and system integration. Drawing from these insights, the review contextualizes the MWONGOZO SMART project as an integrated, rule-based, web-driven guidance platform tailored to the Tanzanian higher education ecosystem. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions and design principles necessary for building reliable, ethical, and scalable intelligent guidance systems for education in developing contexts.