Page 14 - UNAM Executive Annual Report 2018

Executive Overview by

the Vice-Chancellor

Prof. Kenneth Matengu,
Vice-Chancellor

The University during the period under review, continued to carry out its mandate, as enshrined in the University
Act and strategic documents. The mandate, as per the Act, is to provide higher education, undertake research,
advancement and dissemination of knowledge, community service, and to contribute to the social and
economic development of Namibia. This Annual Report summarizes key strategic activities during the reporting
period. I highlight some of the key strategic activities in my executive overview.

Access to higher education is dependent on the availability of teaching and learning resources, qualified
expertise and financial resources among other imperatives. With support from Government and other bilateral
partners the University continued with infrastructure expansion and development to offer quality higher
education, and to develop and produce productive and competitive human capital in various fields. UNAM
graduates are expected to possess the requisite knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to function efficiently
and effectively in culturally diverse, and globally competitive contexts.

The Eng. Jose Eduardo Dos Santos Campus: Phase III, the Hage Geingob Campus Multipurpose Centre and
Health Centre, and the Southern Campus Phase I: Construction of Lecture Halls, were some of the capital
projects that were under construction during the period under review.

The mandate to undertake research and to advance and disseminate knowledge requires high-level academic
staff and students, especially postgraduate students, who are actively involved in research. The University
registered 162 doctoral, 1 101 masters, and 373 postgraduate students in 2018. In addition over 90 Professors
and approximately 275 PhD holders from several countries within and outside the continent of Africa are in the
University’s employment.

The overall UNAM enrollment in 2018, was 29 374 students. UNAM continues to be the institution of higher
education in Namibia with the highest number of students. The research activities were generally responsive
and relevant to the national development agenda of Namibia as well as the global Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs). Some were in Conservation Agriculture, improving food security for smallholder farmers, inclusive
education, value addition and utilization of Namibia’s natural resources for potential commercial outputs and
national development.

The University, as per its establishing Statute, is mandated to foster relations both nationally and
internationally. The University in 2018 signed 37 Memoranda of Understanding and Agreements (MoUs) with
both national and international strategic partners. UNAM for example, signed an MoU with Turku University
in Finland to strengthen the MSc Software Engineering Programme in the School of Computing. Also, with
the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Social Security Commission,

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