5Year Strategic Plan - University of Namibia

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In the areas of outreach the University operated nine Regional Outreach Centres across the country, and four campuses in Neudamm, Ogongo, Oshakati, and Henties Bay, in addition to the main Campus in Windhoek. The Oshakati Campus developed through a close interaction with the community. As a result, there has been a number of community development programmes on the Campus. Given the needs of the community, however, there is need to re-orient the programmes to be more academic. For this reason, the University appointed a Dean of Studies for the Campus, in order to assist in overseeing and developing academic programmes. The University also started the construction of a Science Block at the Northern Campus. Overall therefore access and outreach have been enhanced. Strategic Objective 2: Relevance and Applicability African Universities are often accused of offering courses based on imported or inherited models, concentrating on the creation of knowledge for its own sake and resisting the influence of key stakeholders over curriculum. In avoiding the pitfalls that lead to such misperceptions UNAM has been striving to offer courses that are demand oriented, needs driven and strong on local content while remaining comparatively universal. This strategic objective had two main goals: to increase the relevance of academic programmes to local needs and to increase programmes offered to respond to national needs and demand. Before the University celebrated its 10 th Anniversary in 2002, opportunity was taken to take stock of achievements and gaps during the first ten years. A major review of academic programmes was undertaken and major decisions reached on curriculum reforms and shift from a trimester system to a semester system in order to allow more efficient delivery of courses and to give more room for research to ensure it feeds into teaching. Internal quality assessment was also undertaken and stakeholders such as the Government, the National Qualifications Authority and the Teachers’ Union were consulted on the market orientation of the courses and service offered and the way they address the global issues in the knowledge-based economy. Following these consultations and review exercises, a new Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration offered both face to face and through distance learning was introduced in order to meet national demand. Furthermore, new professional skills and survival oriented programmes such as Computer Literacy, HIV/AIDS, Contemporary Issues, and Ethics were launched in addition to Communication 11
Skills. New programmes were also launched. They include a Ph.D. programme in Curriculum Assessment and Instruction Studies and the BETD Inset Programme. The latter was developed jointly with the Ministry of Basic Education, Sports and Culture (MBESC); and the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Employment Creation (MHETEC), represented by the National Institute of Educational Development (NIED). In addition the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences started a Masters Degree in Public Health and a new Masters Degree in Information Technology (MSc, IT) was introduced in the Faculty of Science. To increase international comparability and allow for international cooperation in areas where staff resources are still limited links with international development partners and sister higher education institutions at international level were increased and strengthened. During the period in question UNAM’s Business School graduated its first group of 30 students with an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration (EMBA), a programme offered jointly with the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands and supported by the private sector in Namibia. Similarly two batches of students graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) after completing their course under an MPPA programme jointly offered with the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the African Capacity Building Foundation and the Ford Foundation. These very popular programmes have significantly contributed to the development of high level human resource now occupying senior positions in Government, public institutions and the private sector. To address new issues in world development in 2005 the University of Namibia launched a Regional Trade Policy Course for Government officials from English Speaking African countries. The course was jointly offered by the Faculty of Economics and Management Science, the Faculty of Law and the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation. A new Specialised Diploma in Gender and Development Studies, as an inter-Faculty programme was developed by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Research and Consultancy Centre (MRCC), through funding by the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. A Postgraduate Diploma in Arbitration and Conciliation jointly offered by UNAM and the Universities of Lesotho and Cape Town was also launched. Other courses offered in collaboration with UNAM’s international partners include the Diploma in International Relations offered in collaboration with the University of Malta, the Diploma 12
Page 3 and 4: Copyright © University of Namibia
Page 5 and 6: 3.0. THE STRATEGIC PLAN (2006-2010)
Page 7 and 8: ABBREVIATIONS ACBF ADEA BETD EMBA E
Page 9 and 10: 2. Mission Our mission is to provid
Page 11 and 12: 1.0. BACKGROUND I.1. Historical Bac
Page 13 and 14: Administration (MPPA) offered joint
Page 15 and 16: knowledge creation in line with the
Page 17: In terms of output, the number of g
Page 21 and 22: theatres were constructed with each
Page 23 and 24: staff development programme that wo
Page 25 and 26: As from 2004 the subvention from Go
Page 27 and 28: structures and systems in order to
Page 29 and 30: 2.0. CHALLENGES 2.1. Global Challen
Page 31 and 32: 2.3. Quality and Relevance Challeng
Page 33 and 34: not deserve to be called universiti
Page 35 and 36: Without a stable, motivated and hig
Page 37 and 38: Growing recognition from stakeholde
Page 39 and 40: Our Vision Our vision is to become
Page 41 and 42: 3.4. Goals and Strategic Objectives
Page 43 and 44: SO-3: INCREASING RELEVANCE OF UNAM
Page 45 and 46: iv) Development of an acquisition a
Page 47 and 48: Directorate of Human Resources to p
Page 49 and 50: SO-10: ADDRESSING STUDENT AND STAFF
Page 51 and 52: SO2: Strengthening Research and Con
Page 53 and 54: 2. To diversify sources of funding
Page 55 and 56: SO-8: Strengthening Human Resources

5Year Strategic Plan - University of Namibia

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