ONGWEDIVA – The South African-based North West University will graduate over 700 Namibian students in Advanced Certificates in Education and Bachelors of Honours in Education Degree.
The first group of students received Advanced Certificates and Honours degree at a graduation ceremony at Ongwediva’s Bennies Entertainment Park on Tuesday while the remainder will receive theirs at a graduation ceremony that will take place today (Thursday) in Windhoek.
So far the North West University has conferred over 5000 degrees, certificates and diplomas in Namibia since its inception in 1998.
To date the University has 72 000 students in Africa since its establishment to date.
“Our university is eleven years old this year, and now the second largest university in South Africa with 72 000 students,” remarked the Executive Director of Unit for Open Learning Professor Manie Spamer.
The guest speaker at the graduation, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, an icon of the liberation struggle and former Robbin Island prisoner encouraged the graduates to be innovative and be job creators in order to develop the country.
“Fellow country men and women don’t just think that you are going to work, go further and come up with industries and create a job, that is how development comes about,” related ya Toivo.
According to Spamer, the North West University is positioned to make a significant contribution towards addressing Southern Africa’s education challenges and through its distance education improve the poor participation rate in higher education in Southern Africa and increase access to and success in higher education.
The Executive Director of Unit for Open Learning said the University Unit for Open Distance Learning was officially established in 2012 to transform distance education through innovative education and research to produce empowered leaders who can apply their teaching knowledge in evolving higher education environments.
North West University through open distance learning is dedicated to provide access to the increasing number of students for quality education programmes by means of ongoing effective support and appropriate technology.
“This unit is integral to the University’s provision of many opportunities for lifelong learning, including flexibility of access and modes of study, providing high-quality distance learning for all,” said Spamer.
The University has so far conferred over 55 000 degrees and diplomas since the distance teaching was introduced 20 years ago.
Currently, the university offers four programmes in education, one in theology and four in nursing.
In 2015, the university could offer a Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Arts in Public Governance:
Police Practice and a Bachelor of Science in IT and more courses to be introduced in 2016.