Transforming Namibia’s higher education through discussions
Celebrating Namibia Higher Education Day
Jeanette Diergaardt
In a recent webinar, various players from the Namibian higher education sector partook in a discussion to outline key issues pertaining to tertiary education. Namibia Higher Education Day took place on 22 July and was celebrated by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity-Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM).
The issue of youth unemployment and unemployed graduates was among the first presentations that took place. The uptake of school leaving matriculates into the higher education system was a topic of discussion as well. During the discussion, the basic education curriculum was mentioned. According to the manager of the Namibia Qualification Framework (NQF), Harmoni Beukes, high schoolers previously migrated from an NQF level 3 from the Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level (NSSCO). A learner could also leave basic education with NSSC Higher level with a NQF level 4, directly into the university system that predominantly has NQF level 6 qualifications, she said, outlining the big jump from high school to tertiary education. However, there are various diploma courses with an NQF level 4 and 5 as well as courses that incorporate level 4 and 5 learning.
A key factor that also plays a role are subject choices, whether on higher or ordinary level. Beukes also stated that the higher education curriculum is based on the need of the Namibian industry, although there are still some needs that arise from the industry.
On the issue of the uptake of graduates, Mwilima Mushokabanji, CEO of Meatco, strongly encouraged the study of agriculture for the end goal of graduates creating employment opportunities.
“We don’t want to produce professional slaves,” he said.
According to the Meatco CEO, “Namibians should decolonialise their minds and teach our children it is not a crime to go to a vocational school”. He also shared numbers that outline the lucrative business of agriculture from Meatco’s financial perspective. The University of Namibia (Unam) and Meatco recently signed a memorandum of understanding for the company to house graduates.
“RUFORUM is a consortium of African universities that primarily train at a postgraduate level in agriculture and related fields. It was founded in 2004 by African Vice Chancellors,” Dr Alice Mweeta said during her presentation.
She is the deputy executive decretary for programme development and implementation at RUFORUM.
The webinar can be watched by the public by scanning the QR code; (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Eckl-wrFY CREATE QR CODE OF LINK)
INFOGRAPHIC
Number of enrollments in higher education:
Data presented by Sem Shikongo, representative from the National Council of Higher Education.
YEAR
FEMALE
MALE
2017
37 555
18 492
2018
36 921
19 587
2019
44 312
22 110
Higher education rnrollment
2015
2019
No. of students
%
No. of students
%
Public institutions
34 917
70.3
46 867
70.6
Private institutions
14 761
29.7
19 561
29.4
In a recent webinar, various players from the Namibian higher education sector partook in a discussion to outline key issues pertaining to tertiary education. Namibia Higher Education Day took place on 22 July and was celebrated by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity-Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM).
The issue of youth unemployment and unemployed graduates was among the first presentations that took place. The uptake of school leaving matriculates into the higher education system was a topic of discussion as well. During the discussion, the basic education curriculum was mentioned. According to the manager of the Namibia Qualification Framework (NQF), Harmoni Beukes, high schoolers previously migrated from an NQF level 3 from the Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level (NSSCO). A learner could also leave basic education with NSSC Higher level with a NQF level 4, directly into the university system that predominantly has NQF level 6 qualifications, she said, outlining the big jump from high school to tertiary education. However, there are various diploma courses with an NQF level 4 and 5 as well as courses that incorporate level 4 and 5 learning.
A key factor that also plays a role are subject choices, whether on higher or ordinary level. Beukes also stated that the higher education curriculum is based on the need of the Namibian industry, although there are still some needs that arise from the industry.
On the issue of the uptake of graduates, Mwilima Mushokabanji, CEO of Meatco, strongly encouraged the study of agriculture for the end goal of graduates creating employment opportunities.
“We don’t want to produce professional slaves,” he said.
According to the Meatco CEO, “Namibians should decolonialise their minds and teach our children it is not a crime to go to a vocational school”. He also shared numbers that outline the lucrative business of agriculture from Meatco’s financial perspective. The University of Namibia (Unam) and Meatco recently signed a memorandum of understanding for the company to house graduates.
“RUFORUM is a consortium of African universities that primarily train at a postgraduate level in agriculture and related fields. It was founded in 2004 by African Vice Chancellors,” Dr Alice Mweeta said during her presentation.
She is the deputy executive decretary for programme development and implementation at RUFORUM.
The webinar can be watched by the public by scanning the QR code; (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Eckl-wrFY CREATE QR CODE OF LINK)
INFOGRAPHIC
Number of enrollments in higher education:
Data presented by Sem Shikongo, representative from the National Council of Higher Education.
YEAR
FEMALE
MALE
2017
37 555
18 492
2018
36 921
19 587
2019
44 312
22 110
Higher education rnrollment
2015
2019
No. of students
%
No. of students
%
Public institutions
34 917
70.3
46 867
70.6
Private institutions
14 761
29.7
19 561
29.4
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