2006-02-16Staff Report 2 "By Emma Kakololo WINDHOEK A four-member team from Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL) is in the country to conduct a feasibility study towards the establishment of an engineering faculty at the University of Namibia (Unam). The faculty will be part of Unam's Northern campus (Oshakati) and based in Ong-wediva. The project is a result of a passionate appeal by for-mer President Sam Nujoma to his then Indian counterpart, President Avul Pakir Jainulab-deen to strengthen bilateral ties in the education field. Besides setting up an engineering faculty, the team will also assist in the reinforcement of Unam's Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Indian High Commissioner to Namibia, Yogendra Kumar, briefing the media yesterday remarked that the arrival of the Indian consultants was an indication of how well Nujoma's appeal was accepted by the Indian president and that it was now bearing fruits not only with the feasibility study but relationships have been forged between Unam and Indian universities. He said ties in the field of satellite communication between the respective universities and hospitals were also in the pipeline. It is just a matter of signing agreements between the respective tele-companies before the project is implemented. ""Through the satellite connectivity project, African universities and Indian universities would be in constant communication to advise and consult one another,"" Kumar stated. Ed.CIL is an Indian Government public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Education and Culture to offer consultancy and technical services in different areas of education and human resource development not only within the country but also on global basis. Global projects include a study of technical and vocational training needs for Rwanda's reconstruction and the role of Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, a feasibility report for the establishment of an Indian university in Kuwait, establishment of Bharat-Nepal Maitri Politechnic at Hetauda, a project report for the Institute of Technology and Management in Sri Lanka among others. As part of the preparation for the study, the team this week met with relevant sta-keholders, namely Unam's Vice Chancellor and staff, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba, Works, Transport, and Communication Minister Joel Kaapanda, as well as the Ongwediva Town Council that has offered 30 hectares of land for the proposed venture near the vocational training centre. The duration of the feasibility study is estimated at 30 working days. The team would then come up with a report. The Indian government is covering the study costs." 2006-02-16Staff Report 2
