WINDHOEK - Several universities in India, Russia, UK, USA and the European Union (EU) want to collaborate with the International University of Management (IUM) in the fields of academic research.
This was revealed at a recent graduation at IUM by its chair and founder Dr David Namwandi, an event that was graced by the former president Hifikepunye Pohamba and other high-profile dignitaries.
“During my recent visits to various universities in India, Russia, UK, USA and Europe I have received so many offers and requests for collaboration in many fields of research of interest to Namibia, Africa and their own countries,” said Namwandi
He said what is important for now is for IUM to vigorously pursue these cooperative programmes while it ensures adequate protection of its intellectual property in the various research findings, process improvements and innovations, and for the institution of higher learning to engage the private sector in the effective commercialization of these research undertakings.
He said there is a need to partnering with industry as such an endeavour will not only serve to promote strong industry-university linkages, but it would create additional streams of income, job opportunities for graduates, the university and the communities served by IUM.
He said: “The youth is our hope. On their shoulders rest the future of our country. Not only are they the beneficiaries of our dream, they are the bearers of the dream to the next generation. And let me remind you graduands and aspirants, this celebration today is by no means a small achievement. You graduands have endured several years of intense learning to come to this day to be adorned with the IUM graduation gown, cap, tassel and certificate.”
He also expressed pride in the fact that for the first time ever IUM that has over 10 000 students, from Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, St Lucia among others, who witnessed the first group of pioneer students who completed a nursing programme that like all its courses is properly accredited.
The four-year Bachelor in Nursing Honours Degree was initially launched in 2014 by the then minister of health, Dr Richard Kamwi. Prior to that Kamwi wrote a letter inviting IUM to introduce the nursing programme “in order to assist in addressing the shortfall of nurses in nursing,” as Namibia had to rely on expatriate nurses from countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and other African countries.
“While that was a foreign idea to us at the time, with the help of professionals and healthcare gurus who heard the clarion call, today, four years later, we witnessed the first cohort of IUM nursing students taking the oath after successfully completing the course,” he said with a glint of pride in his eyes as he addressed the graduation ceremony.