The partnership between NUST and the EU began in 2002 with the latter providing development assistance to the former for the establishment of the NUST Hotel School. Since then NUST and the EU have collaborated on no less than 48 projects with a combined total value of over N$926 million. These joint projects have focused on research, cultural preservation and institutional and individual student and staff mobilities. The partnership between NUST and the EU has seen the Namibian higher education institution collaborate with no fewer than 14 European countries.
A significant portion of the joint NUST– EU projects, especially those focused on research, are cross cutting in nature and therefore contribute to institutional, individual and cultural development aspects. A key institutional development project between NUST and Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany, focused on the former’s transition from a polytechnic to a university. Titled, “Transforming the Polytechnic of Namibia to the Namibia University of Science and Technology: Strategic Alliance towards Innovation and Management Efficiency,” this initiative harnessed the strategic partnership between the two institutions to support and facilitate NUST’s transformation.
Speaking at the Commemoration event, NUST Vice-Chancellor, Dr Erold Naomab cited the high number of innovative joint research projects between NUST and the EU, making the latter, as an international union, NUST’s largest collaborative partner. “These projects benefit the campus community, as well as the broader Namibian nation, and in some cases the African continent at large,” Dr Naomab said. He added that these joint initiatives were evidence that NUST had “evolved from its days of merely being a space for teaching and technical instruction, into a fully-fledged university of international standing.”
“We believe that research creates opportunities for all stakeholders to contribute to deepen and extend the shared body of knowledge in the interest of sustainable development, peace and security,” said EU Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Sinikka Antilla, affirming the EU’s commitment to international cooperation in research and academic mobility during her address at the Commemoration ceremony. She also emphasised the cross cutting and multidisciplinary nature of the EU’s partnership with NUST, citing human resources development, the preservation of local languages, renewable energy, biodiversity and agriculture.
Delivering the keynote address at the Commemoration celebration was Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Maureen Hinda- Mbuende, who expressed appreciation on the part of the Namibian Government towards the EU for the strong and mutually beneficial partnerships. “The relationship between Namibia and the EU continues to go from strength to strength, demonstrated by your (EU) commitment to support various development projects in Namibia and the region,” she said.
In a gesture of goodwill and as a token of friendship the EU Delegation to Namibia presented NUST with a statue embodying the spirit of the partnership between the two. The statue, entitled, “Synergy” was unveiled at the Commemoration ceremony by Dr Naomab, H.E. Antilla and Hon. Hinda- Mbuende.