Martin Endjala
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) has confirmed plans to provide accommodation for students at its new satellite research campus in Lüderitz.
NUST’s spokesperson, Nashilongo Gervasius, gave the assurance in response to concerns raised about accommodation by Lüderitz mayor, Phillippus Balhao.
On Tuesday, Balhao said the accommodation challenges are due to the town’s lack of serviced land.
“We have acquired land that we have set in motion as part of our strategic expansion plan by the time we have to finalise all the infrastructural development related to the campus, which would be five or more years. Accommodation is considered part of the strategic plan,” said Gervasius.
She said the campus would have a lab, extra auditoriums, and all the related infrastructure needed to provide an academic environment for the university.
She stated that some delegations that attended the launch were suppliers, who are meeting the university’s accommodation needs elsewhere throughout the country.
“At this point, postgraduate students are the main focus, and these students would have tenure time to do their research at the Lüderitz campus. Some will be there for three months or maybe six months. It will not be the traditional normal of qualifications we have for undergraduates,” she explained.
Gervasius said that the current model for the university, which is operational, has only offered bridging courses.
This means that the targets for the current operations have been students or community members who need to enter mainstream academic programs.
“At this point, those are community members who are not necessarily acquiring accommodation. But we appreciate the mayor’s concerns about accommodation because he’s seeing the vision that we are seeing transforming Lüderitz into a university town and with that, it will come with the needs of accommodation and so many others,” she stated.
She said that NUST is collaborating with the community to address these needs, relying on partnerships that have previously met these needs in alignment with its strategic goal.
Additionally, the campus will focus on providing research opportunities for Master’s and Ph.D. students, particularly in the oil and gas green hydrogen industry.
Gervasius said these opportunities extend beyond natural resources, the environment, or any aspect related to the history of Lüderitz.
