Annual Report 2007 - University of Namibia

of Geosciences in China; and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. In additionto these academic institutions, the University of Namibia also engaged into partnerships withthe World Trade Organization (WTO), the Southern African Defense and Security Management(SADSEM), Eco Africa, etc.I wish to elaborate on some of these partnerships that were of particular importance duringthe 2007 academic year. A cooperation agreement was signed with the University of Oulu inFinland according to which their Faculty of Engineering agreed to assist UNAM in curriculumdevelopment in the proposed Departments of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineeringas well as Mechanical Engineering in the new Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.The University of Oulu will further train a number of Namibian graduates in relevant fieldsof Engineering. As part of their training, they will be appointed as teaching assistants to gainknowledge and experience of teaching methodology, laboratory operations and other relevantaspects. Once the Faculty is operational, the Finnish University will provide for a number ofextensive professorial visits from Oulu to Ongwediva. During these visits the Finnish Professorswill also act as mentors for Namibian Assistant Lecturers who are expected to assume theresponsibility of the relevant modules in the future.In addition to their support for the new Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, theUniversity of Oulu further pledged support for the establishment of a fully fledged School ofMedicine and to assist the Faculty of Education in a number of areas, especially early childhooddevelopment.There is no doubt that international cooperation of this nature contributed to the increasingrecognition of the University of Namibia as a provider of quality education and research, as isevident from the honour that was bestowed on two academic staff members by the FrenchGovernment. Professor Andre Du Pisani received the Chevalier Palme Academique Award inrecognition of his contribution to critical scholarship and public debate in Namibia, while Prof.Hans-Volker Gretschel received an award for his outstanding contributions to the French languageand culture.The University of Namibia launched the Centre for Chinese Studies and welcomed a Chineselanguage expert, Prof. Hao Lie who was seconded to UNAM by the Office of Chinese LanguageCouncil International where he worked as Deputy Director of Language and Culture at the Centrefor Diplomatic Staff. The University further received a number of scholarships from the Chinesegovernment, and eight students are currently undertaking post-graduate studies in fields rangingfrom Education and Computer Science to Fisheries and Crop Production.8