Unam Southern Campus Turns 1

The University of Namibia Southern Campus celebrated its first anniversary with a leap in intake from 71 students last year to 438 this year.

Speaking at the coinciding commencement of the academic year on Thursday, campus director Erold Naomab said this increase was due mainly to the introduction of a diploma course in junior primary education and a degree in nursing.

Hailing the youngest branch to the Unam franchise a dynamic and thriving institution, vice-chancellor Lazarus Hangula expressed regret that growth in student numbers unfortunately did not guarantee immediate growth in infrastructure. ”The matching of infrastructure and the human resources to the ever-increasing number of students are some of the real challenges the University of Namibia has been faced with for some years now,” he said. The southern campus currently operates from an upgraded structure acquired through the Teachers’ Resource Centre.

In addition, Hangula said, Unam bought a private facility for N$7 million and renovated it to serve as a hostel for 80 students. He announced that the clearing and servicing of land for the permanent campus structure will be completed this year. This exercise will cost N$10 million. The fully-fledged campus is expected to be completed within four years.

By then, Naomab estimates the campus should host more than 2 000 students. Students hail from all over the country, with just over 30% from the //Karas Region. In addition to the students and academic staff, others who graced the event were outgoing //Karas governor Bernadus Swartbooi – a former law student of the university, and former chairperson of the university council, Willem Konjore. All speakers provided the students with motivational nuggets throughout the event, concluding the festivities with a panel discussion on transformational leadership.

– Nampa