Windhoek
The University of Namibia (Unam) says the majority of top leadership positions at the institution are occupied by Namibians, unlike in the past when top positions were occupied mainly by foreign nationals.
Minister of Higher Education, Innovation and Training Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi – who was a deputy dean of students at Unam before her appointment as minister last year – called on Unam’s Senate to look into the employment of foreign nationals in leadership positions at the expense of quailified Namibians.
She said Unam has a solid staff development programme, but succession at deanship level presents a challenge: “I’m leaving this one with you (council) as a challenge. We’re not saying localise where there is no proper expertise. No, it’s a university and we rely on professional skills wherever they come from, but honestly, it’s time we begin to see Namibians taking up leadership roles across the campuses.”
She said Unam has been in existence for over 20 years now and there is no reason why the majority of faculties should still be headed by foreign nationals.
Unam spokesperson John Haufiku told New Era yesterday that top jobs, such as heads of department (HODs), faculty deans and their deputies, assistant pro-vice chancellor (former campuses directors), registrar, librarian, pro-vice chancellor for finance and administration, pro-vice chancellor for research, innovation and development are mainly occupied by Namibians.
“Eighty percent of Unam’s top leadership are Namibians for the first time in a long time. They were all appointed late last year and early this year. All HoDs, deans, deputy deans and pro-vice chancellors are 80 percent Namibian,” he said.
Unam has eight deans and seven deputy deans. Of the eight deans, five are Namibians and three non-Namibians. Of the seven deputy deans, there are six Namibians and one non-Namibian.
Asked about the sudden change, Haufiku said it was not a conscious thing. People applied as usual and Namibians qualified for the jobs. “They all have qualifications,” he said.
For one to hold a top job at Unam, such as deputy dean, one must at least hold a doctorate and master’s degree.
Meanwhile, vice chancellor of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Professor Tjama Tjivikua said the new university conforms to best practices in appointing its academic leadership. He said NUST has a good representation of highly qualified academics, both Namibian and non-Namibian.
NUST currently has six faculties and each faculty leadership consists of a dean and deputy dean, with departments overseen by HoDs and their deputies. He said of the six deans, one is Namibian, and five are non-Namibians (two of which have permanent residence status in Namibia).
Of the six deputy deans, three are Namibian and three non-Namibian.
Of the 18 HoDs, nine are Namibian and nine foreign nationals. The same proportion of Namibian to non-Namibian applies to deputy HoDs.
Tjivikua said deans are recruited internationally to attract the best talent.
During the last recruitment period in 2015, he noted that only two Namibians applied for the positions of dean. Of these, one was appointed dean and the other as deputy dean for different faculties.
Tjvikua explained that in terms of NUST’s academic structure, a dean heads a faculty consisting of four to five departments. Therefore, he says, a dean must have relevant leadership skills and overall knowledge of the fields of study within that faculty.
The key requirements, he singled out for any candidate are a doctorate and at least 10 years’ experience in the relevant field, extensive experience and competency in academic leadership and management, which include administrative and financial skills, as well as soft skills and integrity.
As part of the transformation of the institution, NUST has embarked on an upgrade of academic qualifications’ initiative for Namibian academic staff.
NUST has 68 doctorate candidates and 82 academic staff members under development working towards their master’s degrees in various academic fields. The staff development programme aims to support Namibian academics to obtain higher qualifications, particularly through doctoral programmes.