Tujoromajo Kasuto
THE Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) has raised N$2 million from a fundraising campaign in support of the establishment of a satellite campus at Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region.
Nust’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Nico Smith, says support for the initiative has been received from local corporates, businesspersons, community members, traditional leaders and traditional authorities.
The Eenhana Town Council threw its weight behind the project with the donation of land valued at about N$46 million, for the purpose of constructing the satellite campus. “The establishment of a Nust campus at Eenhana forms part of the institution’s regional expansion strategy, and draws from the Ohangwena Regional Development Plan. This initiative also speaks to national development imperatives as highlighted in the National Development Plan 5 (NDP5) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan II (HPPII), namely, the expansion of access to higher education and the establishment of infrastructure for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET),” Smith says.
Through this campaign, Nust aims to raise funds for the construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will provide education and training to support technology transfer and thereby drive innovation and development.
Once fully established, the Nust Eenhana Campus will offer no less than 60 programmes in the areas of agriculture, business management, computing and informatics, horticulture, logistics and supply chain management, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).
These programmes will range from Certificates to PhD programmes. Furthermore, no less than 50 short courses will be offered at the Campus.
Former President, Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba, who was present at the launch of the fundraising campaign, says “this event signifies the progress we have made as a nation, in the development of our country and our people since independence, especially in the area of education”.
Pohamba, who is also the Patron of the Nust Eenhana Campus, pledged N$100 000 towards the initiative.
The launch was also attended by Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma, stressing the need for unity to overcome collective challenges. “A people united, striving to achieve a common good for all members of society, will always emerge victorious,” Nujoma says.
He pledged N$5000 towards the establishment of the satellite campus.
Nust will commence teaching and learning activities in Ohangwena next year, and will make use of the Billy William Mwangingane Rural Development Centre (BWMRDC) for this purpose.
The Nust Eenhana Satellite Campus will be based at the BWMRDC until the finalisation of construction of the campus facility at Eenhana.
“Whilst utilising the BWMRDC for our core operations of teaching, learning, research and community service, Nust will immediately avail critical human capital, technical and technological know-how, research and training to the community. Such a partnership reduces pressure on government funding whilst addressing development imperatives in a collective, inclusive and collaborative manner,” says Nust Vice-Chancellor, Erold Naomab.
