University of Namibia
The University of Namibia (UNAM) is a multi-campus public research university in Namibia, as well as the largest university in the country.[3] It was established by an act of Parliament on 31 August 1992.
Motto | Innovation and Academic Excellence |
---|---|
Type | Public university |
Established | 31 August 1992 |
Chancellor | Nangolo Mbumba |
Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Kenneth Matengu |
Academic staff | 2 500 |
Students | 30 144[1] |
Location | , , Namibia |
Campus | 12 campuses and 11 regional centres[2] |
Website | www |
Background
UNAM comprises the following faculties and schools:
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
- Faculty of Economics & Management Science.
- Faculty of Education.
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Faculty of Law
- School of Medicine
- Faculty of Science.
- Faculty of Engineering and Information.
- School of Nursing.
- School of Pharmacy.
- School of Public Health.
- Center of Postgraduate studies.
Ranked within the Top 30 of tertiary institutions on the continent in the past 10 years, UNAM is one of the best universities in Africa.[4] The University of Namibia is the only institution in the world to offer a doctorate in the study of the Khoekhoe language.
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology was founded on 1 January 2008 following the dissolution of the Department of Engineering and Technology, which had existed under the Faculty of Science since 2000. Sam Nujoma, the first President of Namibia and then-Chancellor of the University conducted the groundbreaking ceremony at Ongwediva on 17 November 2007. The ceremony took place on a 13-hectare plot of land that had been donated to UNAM by the Ongwediva Town Council.
In January 2008, the National Planning Commission approved funding for the construction of phase 1 of the new Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FOET) in Ongwediva. Construction work began in April 2008 with emphasis on lecture rooms, staff offices, laboratories, IT facilities, student hostels, staff houses and other support facilities. The completion of these facilities (phase 1A) enabled the first batch of students to be admitted in the FOET.[5]
Academics
Notable academics at the University of Namibia have included Bience Gawanas, former Ombudsperson, Professor Nico Horn,[6] André du Pisani, Lazarus Hangula, Dorian Haarhoff, Elizabeth Amukugo, Job Amupanda and Günter Heimbeck.
Marks scandal
There are reports that UNAM's lecturers have been exchanging marks for sexual favors from students and exchanging completed assignment for money. This has resulted in serious academic degradation. Investigating and combating such illegal practices has become an important priority for the Namibian government and UNAM management.[7][8][9][10]
Notable alumni
The University of Namibia has produced several notable and famous public individuals since its founding, including:
- Sebastian Ignatius ǃGobs, Namibian politician - Class of 1995
- Fransina Kahungu, Mayor of Windhoek[11]
- Theo-Ben Gurirab, received a Doctorate of Law honoris causa - Class of 1999[12]
- Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana received Bachelor of Laws and B.Juris degrees - class of 1998 and 1999[13]
- Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, political scientist and presidential spokesperson to Hage Geingob - Class of 2001
- Monica Geingos, First Lady of the Republic of Namibia and businesswoman - Class of 2002
- Petrina Haingura, Namibian politician - Class of 2002
- Sacky Shanghala, former Namibian minister of justice - Class of 2003
- Sisa Namandje, Namibian lawyer - Class of 2003
- Bernadus Swartbooi, Namibian politician and president of the Landless People's Movement (Namibia) - Class of 2003
- Peya Mushelenga, Minister of Urban and Rural Development - Class of 2003 [14]
- Tangeni Amupadhi - Journalist and Editor of The Namibian Newspaper - Class of 2005
- Sam Nujoma, Namibian politician and former President of Namibia - Class of 2007
- Lucia Iipumbu, Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, trade and SME development - Class of 2008 [15]
- Job Amupanda, Namibian politician and Leader of the Affirmative Repositioning - Class of 2010
- Francine Muyumba, Congolese Senator, Former President of the Panafrican Youth Union - Class of 2012 [16]
- Marichen Luiperth, Namibian Model - Class of 2014
- Joseph Kalimbwe, youth activist and author - Class of 2017[17]
- Henny Seibeb, Namibian politician and deputy president of the Landless People's Movement (Namibia) - Class of 2019 [18]
- Inna Hengari, member of Parliament, youth politician and student leader - Class of 2019
- Utaata Mootu, member of Parliament, youth politician - Class of 2019
- Emma Theofelus, member of Parliament, youth politician - Class of 2019
References
- http://www.unam.edu.na/about-unam
- https://www.unam.edu.na/about-unam/history
- "University of Namibia - About UNAM".
- "Top 200 Universities in Africa | 2016 University Rankings". www.4icu.org. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- http://www.unam.na/faculties/engineering/engineering_index.html
- "Dr. Nico Horn - Professor and Human Rights Leader". www.ijnetwork.org. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- "Unam turned into 'academic brothel'". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- "RDP responds to UNAM's sex trade saga". economist.com.na. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- "Namibian lecturers prey on students sexually". monitor. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- "UNAM knew about sex-for-marks claims". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- Ikela, Selma (18 December 2019). "Fransina Kahungu: From classroom to mayor". New Era Live. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
- Liswaniso, Mwaka (18 July 2014). "Theo-Ben Gurirab (1938 ...) An educator, politician and diplomat". New Era. p. 6.
- Mongudhi, Tileni (April 2012). "Last Woman Standing". Insight Namibia. pp. 22–23.
- "Mushelenga, Peya". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- "Iipumbu, Lucia Magano". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- "USG Abdelaziz meeting with Ms. Francine Muyumba | Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, OSAA". www.un.org. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- https://neweralive.na/posts/young-author-set-to-release-4th-book-on-world-economy | Young author set to release 4th book on world economy - New Era Newspaper
- https://www.lelamobile.com/content/66671/Landless-People-s-Movement-seeking-restorative-justice-Seibeb/ Lela Mobile Online - Landless People’s Movement seeking restorative justice: Seibeb