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Namibia University of Science and Technology

Other name	NUST
Motto in English	Technology and development
Type	Public university
Established	1994
Chancellor	Peter Katjavivi
Vice-Chancellor	Erold Naomab
Academic staff	≥300
Administrative staff	670 (including faculty)
Students	10,500
Location	Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia
Website	www.nust.na

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), formerly known as Polytechnic of Namibia, is a public university located in the city of Windhoek, Namibia. NUST was headed by the founding vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua until March 2019. After two acting appointments, Erold Naomab was appointed vice-chancellor in January 2021. The largely ceremonial role of chancellor of the university is held by Peter Katjavivi.

History

It emerged from the Academy for Tertiary Education, founded in 1980, which was the first institution of higher education in the Republic of Namibia. Act 9 of 1985 of the South African administration defined three sections for this academy, a university part, the College of Out-of-School Training (COST) for vocational training programs and the Technikon Namibia for technical programs related to science and technology. When in 1992 the University of Namibia (UNAM) was founded, the academy lost its university section. The remaining sections, COST and Technikon, were merged to form the Polytechnic of Namibia per Act of Parliament 33 / 1994. The founding council and rector Tjama Tjivikua were appointed in July 1995. In 2015 the Polytechnic was renamed to the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), again per Act of Parliament, as the 1994 Act prescribed the name "Polytechnic of Namibia".

The Namibia University of Science and Technology consists of two campuses and a number of scattered former residential buildings all located in the Windhoek West suburb close to the city centre. The main campus consists of the structures originally erected for the Academy for Tertiary Education. At its center is the Elisabeth house, Windhoek's former obstetric hospital designed by Wilhelm Sander in 1907. Elisabeth house is a national monument since 1986 and houses the Senate chambers and the office of the Vice-Chancellor.

The Engineering campus is adjacent to the main campus; construction of this area started in 1995. Originally intended to house only the School of Engineering, this campus has gradually grown and accommodates the library, all auditoria, and many of the other faculty venues, including, most recently, a new building for the School of Health Sciences. A further building, to house new lecture venues and the Department of Architecture and also a new library for the maters and PHD students, is currently being constructed on this campus.

Academic and vocational offerings

Until the 2010s a classic polytechnic, the institution offered both higher-level vocational training and academic degrees in technical subjects and the applied sciences. In many cases these programs could be combined such that the academic degree could be attempted after a more basic vocational training was successfully passed. Since gaining university status in 2015 several Master and PhD programs have been developed, and short, entry-level certifications have been phased out.

The Namibia University of Science and Technology comprises six academic faculties and offers undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees in the areas of business and management, engineering, information technology, journalism, hospitality, natural resource management, and medicine. As of 2010 there were 86 undergraduate and 19 postgraduate degrees offered at the institution. The university now also offers master's degree courses. A Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) has also been set up.

Competition with the University of Namibia

NUST has been in constant competition with Namibia's other state-owned university, the University of Namibia (UNAM). University rankings consistently list both institutions among Africa's Top-50, until 2009 usually with UNAM a few places ahead of NUST. In recent years NUST has been ahead of UNAM; the Webometrics 2013 lists it on rank 28 in Africa (2,284 globally), and UNAM on rank 48 (3,160).

On the local level, judging service and contributions to the Namibian economy, NUST usually tops all other educational institutions. In 2010 the argument about who delivers the best tertiary education in Namibia entered a new stage when a local study found the NUST again to be far ahead in terms of services delivery. This study has subsequently been rejected by the Students' Representative Council of UNAM but endorsed by NUST management staff.

Naming controversy

The Polytechnic of Namibia had for a number of years attempted to change its name and its mandate to that of a Namibian university of science and technology. The institution intermittently adopted the name on its web site and in much of its official communication. This, however, was against the law that established the institution. In August 2010, the motion was stopped by cabinet, stating upcoming overall changes to the Namibian education sector as the reason to decline the name change.

More than two years later in December 2012, cabinet instructed the Ministry of Education to grant the Polytechnic of Namibia university status and a change to the desired name. Part of the transition process was the phasing out of one-year Diploma and one-semester Certificate courses within five years. In 2015 the new act was gazetted and the name change became official.

Events

The institution conducts a cultural festival every year at the onset of spring. Activities include an International Cuisine Day where staff and students prepare and sell traditional food, a flea market, and the Miss and Mr NUST competition.

NUST has an Internet radio station called NustFM.

Staff

University leadership

NUST was headed by the founding vice-chancellor Tjama Tjivikua from 1995 until March 2019. After several consecutive acting vive-chancellor appointments of Morné Du Toit in 2019 and Andrew Niikondo in 2020, Erold Naomab was appointed vice-chancellor in January 2021. The largely ceremonial role of chancellor of the university is held by Peter Katjavivi.

Notable staff

• Anicia Peters, the pro-vice-chancellor for research, innovation and development at the University of Namibia, former dean of computing and informatics at NUST

Notable alumni

• Hendrik Gaobaeb, President of the United Democratic Front, graduated with a Diploma in Public Administration in 2000
• Sam Nujoma, first president of Namibia, received a doctorate honoris causa in public management in 2005
• Harold Pupkewitz, entrepreneur, received a doctorate honoris causa in business management in 2011
• Erastus Uutoni, Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service of Namibia, holds a Diploma in Police Science and a Certificate in Marketing from NUST

References

1. "Old Mutual donates N$300 000 to the Polytechnic Library". The Namibian. 23 August 2010.
2. ^ "Laureate Tjama Tjivikua". Junior Achievement Namibia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
3. "Tjivikua nicht verärgert" [Tjivikua not cross]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 24 August 2010.
4. ^ Polytechnic of Namibia Archived 5 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine Historical Perspective
5. "Neues Leben im "Storchennest"" [New life in the "Storch's nest"]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 17 April 2007.
6. "Prospectus for Undergraduate Studies" (PDF). Polytechnic of Namibia. 2010. Archived from the original (pdf) on 5 January 2011.
7. "Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) | Namibia University of Science and Technology". www.nust.na. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
8. ^ Smith, Jana–Mari (23 August 2010). "Cabinet to decide on Polytechnic name". The Namibian.
9. Kiremire, Enos (21 August 2009). "African University Ranking Sub-Saharan Africa: (July 2009: University of Namibia)". New Era. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
10. "Africa Ranking". Webometrics.info. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
11. Katswara, Tonderai (21 January 2005). "Excellence and hard work honoured at PMR awards". The Namibian.
12. ^ Ekongo, John (9 June 2010). "Poly not at war with Unam". New Era. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012.
13. Shipanga, Selma (23 August 2010). "Unam slams Polytech over survey findings". The Namibian.
14. Philander, Frederick (23 August 2010). "Poly stays a Poly". New Era.
15. Shipanga, Selma (21 January 2013). "Polytechnic prepares for transition to university". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013.
16. "Accommodation, Sport & Culture". Polytechnic of Namibia. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
17. "NUST FM". Retrieved 28 February 2019.
18. Ngatjiheue, Charmaine (26 May 2020). "Niikondo now acting vice chancellor at Nust". The Namibian.
19. Iikela, Sakeus (16 November 2020). "Nust appoints vice chancellor amid red flags". The Namibian. p. 1.
20. "Katjavivi appointed NUST chancellor". New Era. 18 October 2016.
21. "Gaobaeb Hendrik". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
22. Philander, Frederick (11 April 2005). "Namibia: Do We Have What It Takes?". New Era. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
23. "Hundreds graduate from Poly". New Era. 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
24. "Know Your MPs. Erastus Amutenya Uutoni (Swapo)". New Era. 24 June 2016. p. 4.

External links

• Namibia University of Science and Technology website
• "Polytechnic of Namibia Act 33 of 1994" (PDF). Government of Namibia. Archived from the original (pdf) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2010.

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Cape Verde	Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde
Central African Republic	EUCLID University of Bangui
Chad	University of N'Djamena
Republic of the Congo	Marien Ngouabi University
Cote d'Ivoire	International University of Grand-Bassam Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Catholic University of Bukavu University of Kinshasa University of Kisangani University of Lubumbashi
Egypt	Ain Shams University Al-Azhar University Alexandria Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology Alexandria University Benha University Cairo University Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology Egyptian e-Learning University Helwan University Mansoura University Menoufia University Minya University Misr University for Science and Technology October 6 University Pharos University in Alexandria South Valley University Suez Canal University Tanta University The American University in Cairo The British University in Egypt University of Sadat City Zagazig University
Eritrea	University of Asmara
Eswatini	University of Eswatini
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa Science and Technology University Addis Ababa University Ethiopian Civil Service University Haramaya University Hawassa University Jimma University Mekelle University St. Mary's University Wollega University
Gabon	Omar Bongo University
Ghana	Accra Institute of Technology Accra Technical University African University College of Communications All Nations University Ashesi University Bluecrest University College Central University George Grant University of Mines and Technology Ghana Institute of Languages Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Koforidua Technical University Kumasi Technical University Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Methodist University College Ghana Pentecost University Presbyterian University College Radford University College Regent University College of Science and Technology Regional Maritime University University for Development Studies University of Cape Coast University of Education, Winneba University of Energy and Natural Resources University of Ghana University of Health and Allied Sciences University of Professional Studies University of Media, Arts and Communication Valley View University Wisconsin International University College Zenith University College
Kenya	African Virtual University Catholic University of Eastern Africa Daystar University Dedan Kimathi University of Technology Egerton University International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenyatta University Maseno University Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Moi University Mount Kenya University Multimedia University of Kenya South Eastern Kenya University Strathmore University Umma University University of Eldoret University of Nairobi
Lesotho	National University of Lesotho
Liberia	Cuttington University Stella Maris Polytechnic University United Methodist University
Libya	Al Asmarya University for Islamic Sciences Al Zawiya University Misurata University Sabha University University of Benghazi University of Tripoli
Madagascar	University of Antananarivo University of Toamasina University of Toliara
Malawi	Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Malawi University of Science and Technology UNICAF University of Malawi
Mali	University of Bamako
Mauritania	University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya
Mauritius	Open University of Mauritius University of Mauritius University of Technology, Mauritius
Morocco	Mohammed First University Mohammed V University University of al-Qarawiyyin
Mozambique	Catholic University of Mozambique Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo University
Namibia	International University of Management Namibia University of Science and Technology University of Namibia
Niger	Abdou Moumouni University Higher Institute of Mining, Industry and Geology Maryam Abacha American University Niger
Nigeria	Abia State University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Adamawa State University Ahmadu Bello University Al-Hikmah University Babcock University Bayero University Bells University of Technology Bowen University Crawford University Delta State University, Abraka Ebonyi State University Federal University of Technology, Minna Federal University of Technology, Owerri Federal University of Technology, Yola Gombe State University Kogi State University Kwara State University Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Michael Okpara University of Agriculture National Open University of Nigeria Niger Delta University Nnamdi Azikiwe University Osun State University Pan-Atlantic University Redeemer's University Rivers State University University of Abuja University of Africa University of Agriculture, Abeokuta University of Agriculture, Makurdi University of Benin University of Calabar University of Ibadan University of Ilorin University of Lagos University of Port Harcourt University of Uyo Usman Dan Fodio University
Rwanda	Université Nationale du Rwanda
Sierra Leone	Njala University University of Sierra Leone
Somalia	Benadir University East Africa University Puntland State University
South Africa	Cape Peninsula University of Technology Central University of Technology Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North-West University Rhodes University University of Cape Town University of Fort Hare University of Johannesburg University of KwaZulu-Natal University of the Free State University of Limpopo University of Pretoria University of South Africa University of Stellenbosch University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand University of Venda University of Zululand Walter Sisulu University
South Sudan	University of Juba
Sudan	El Imam El Mahdi University Omdurman Ahlia University Red Sea University University of Science and Technology
Tanzania	Ardhi University Muslim University of Morogoro Mzumbe University St. Augustine University of Tanzania The Open University of Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam Zanzibar University
The Gambia	University of the Gambia
Togo	Université de Lomé
Uganda	Busitema University Uganda Christian University Uganda Management Institute Uganda Martyrs University
Zambia	Cavendish University Copperbelt University Mulungushi University University of Zambia Zambian Open University
Zimbabwe	Africa University Bindura University of Science Education Chinhoyi University of Technology Great Zimbabwe University Harare Institute of Technology Lupane State University Midlands State University National University of Science and Technology University of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Open University

• Namibia University of Science and Technology
• Universities in Namibia
• Education in Windhoek
• 1994 establishments in Namibia
• Universities and colleges established in 1994