Windhoek
In an attempt to alleviate the lack of accommodation for students in and around Windhoek the privately-run International University of Management (IUM) has opened its ladies hostel at the Dorado Park Campus to all female tertiary students as long as they are registered at institutions in Windhoek.
IUM Vice-Chancellor Virginia Namwandi, however, explained that the hostel has been operational since last year, but was only available for IUM students.
“We saw there is a need to alleviate the shortage of accommodation in Windhoek. So this year we decided to extend our hostel to other female students studying at any tertiary institution in Windhoek,” she said.
Despite the IUM’s flexibility its students will get first priority and only if space is available will outside students be considered.
Normally many students pursuing their studies in Windhoek find themselves stranded as they are unable to afford accommodation due to high rental prices charged by property developers and house owners.
IUM saw an opportunity to use its hostel to accommodate those in need.
Known as the Shekinah Block, the accommodation facility has 43 rooms catering for 173 female students.
IUM spokesperson Meke Nambili said the rooms are spacious and can accommodate four students per room.
She also said the hostel has a self-catering kitchen equipped with stoves, fridges and microwaves. In addition, the hostel has a laundry room, lounge room, Wi-Fi, and DStv.
The interested students are urged to apply and show that they are able to pay the accommodation fees. During its construction phase in 2013, the total cost of the hostel was estimated at N$16 million.
Nambili said the institution is yet to construct the male hostel.
Further, Nambili noted that students seeking places must pay a breakage fee of N$750, of which N$600 will be refunded to the student at the end of the year, while N$150 is a non-refundable fee for the housing committee.
“The breakage fee must be paid in cash and does not form part of the bursary or the actual hostel fee,” she said.
Application forms are available at IUM Dorado Park Main Campus ground floor reception.
All students are urged to provide proof of registration from their tertiary institution to register for accommodation.
The annual hostel fee is N$13 000 and can be paid in instalments per semester.