University of Namibia

The University of Namibia (UNAM) was established in 1992. UNAM’s mission is to provide quality higher education through teaching, research and advisory services to its stakeholders with the view to producer productive and competitive human resources capable of driving public and private institutions towards a knowledge-based economy, economic growth and improved quality of life. With an estimated 22,000 students from which more than 3000 are international students and a staff complement of 2,130 it is the largest university in the country. UNAM has more than 120 active memorandums of understanding with universities in every continent on the globe. It is through these contracts and agreements that research, staff and student mobility are conducted, resulting in an average of 60 foreign academic visits per year and approximately 45 international exchange students, and around 500 peer-reviewed publications. The university has 12 campuses across the country, for which heavy investment shave been made in information technology and e-learning infrastructure. UNAM’s more than 50 bachelor degrees, 30 Masters and 15 PhD degree programmes attracts international students from a total of 18 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, Management of research and innovation outputs has become a priority in its 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.

UNAM is a member of the following associations and organisations:

  • Association of African Universities, and served in the AAU governing Board for 14yrs

  • Association of Commonwealth Universities

  • Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture

  • Southern African Regional Universities Association

  • Southern African Regional Innovation and Management Association

  • National Commission of Research Science and Technology (NCRST)

  • National Research Foundation (NRF)

Role in project

UNAM will provide inputs into the development of the project outcomes, using their particular experience to date in Namibia and the perspective of a strongly emerging research university in SADC to the exchanges of good practice and building of individual and institutional RMA capacity. UNAM will participate in the development of 1) the content of a postgraduate diploma course for RMAs; 2) An accreditation route for RMA professionals; and 3) the development of a Masters in RMA curriculum for the SADC region. 4) A focus on RMA staff and information exchanges across the SADC and EU regions involved, for the exchange of good practice, and developing mutual understanding of the RMA contexts. UNAM staff will participate in a survey and benchmarking exercise, to develop a shared framework for institutional RMA structures and to identify gaps that may exist in their current institutional/individual RMA capacities. Staff exchanges (internships and mentorships) will form part of this activity.

Hileni Kapenda - hkapenda@unam.na

Website: http://www.unam.edu.na/