By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
Plans are afoot to merge Neudamm Agricultural College with Ogongo Agricultural College in a move that would create one of the country’s largest agriculture and natural resources institutions.
If all goes according to plan, the integration of the two colleges will take place in January 2008, said University of Namibia’s communications officer, Utaara Hoveka.
The new integrated institution will be called the Namibia University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (NACA).
He said Neudamm offers diplomas in food and animal science, while Ogongo focuses on crop science.
The merging of the two institutions would diversify agricultural courses offered by the university, and enable effective use of limited human and other resources.
It would further give the University of Namibia (Unam) the direct ability to moderate the courses and ensure quality.
Hoveka added that the merger will not necessarily result in a change of courses.
The Council of the University of Namibia has created a task force mandated to manage the integration of Neudamm and Ogongo agricultural colleges into Unam.
He explained that the head office of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources would be at Neudamm, while Ogongo will be a satellite campus.
The two colleges are involved in teaching and research, as well as rice and mushroom production. They regularly research food and fisheries and ways of adding value to raw food products.
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