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NUST Profile

Welcome to Namibia University of Science and Technology

About NUST

NUST is at the forefront of higher education in Namibia. The University offers various Certificates (under- and post-graduate), Diplomas, Bachelor, Bachelor Honours, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in more than 60 programmes. 

NUST is the first Namibian higher education institution to have established a dedicated Quality Assurance Unit; its programmes are accredited by, among others, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA). The University enjoys a cherished partnership with industry, public sector and civic society through various initiatives such as curriculum advisory boards, work integrated learning and joint research. 

Students are equipped with a blend of contemporary knowledge, skills and competence acquired in classrooms, simulation laboratories, through field work and job attachments, to drive competitiveness in the knowledge economy. NUST graduates are sought after in the Namibian labour market and beyond, and are accepted for further studies in other universities internationally.

NUST Profile

Strategic Imperatives (2021 - 2025)

Vision

A premier technological university known for knowledge creation, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 

 

Mission

An engaged and responsive university, meeting the needs of stakeholders through excellent education, applied research, innovation and service.

 

Values

  1. EXCELLENCE: Excellence is the cornerstone of our operations through the delivery of relevant and responsive education. 
  2. INSTITUTIONAL AUTONOMY AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM: We espouse the fundamental values of the freedom to set and implement our own policies and priorities for teaching, research, and community service and freedom of enquiry for students and staff members to pursue their research, teaching, and learning activities. 
  3. COLLEGIALITY: We support and promote the principle and culture of collegiality and integrity among staff members, united with a common purpose of collectively achieving our vision and mission. 
  4. ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: Reflection of sustainability, through exercising prudency and accountability in all facets of our operations is one of our enshrined values for progressive growth and development. 
  5. DIVERSITY: We strongly embrace, uphold and implement the doctrine of diversity in all our endeavours as entrenched in the constitution of the Republic of Namibia. 

 

Goal 1

Building a vibrant and engaging learning environment. 

Goal 2

Leading research, innovation, partnership and entrepreneurship. 

Goal 3

Securing institutional efficiency and sustainability. 

Goal 4

Driving human-centric digital transformation for Industry 4.0 and beyond.

 

  • People

    Creating a transformative student experience through a sustained university culture. 
    Enhancing research collaboration and impact to boost the ranking of the university. 
    Managing and actively steering the institutional cultural change. 


  • Systems

    Strengthening the quality of teaching and learning by means of blended and online learning in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and beyond. 


  • Sustainability
    Ensuring institutional growth and operational sustainability. 

 

 

NUST will project its competitive advantage through the following: 

  1. Signature programmes, projects, and services; 
  2. Robust and supportive learning environment; 
  3. Strengthened leadership in modern pedagogy; 
  4. Development and offering of responsive curricula informed by research; 
  5. High-quality research, innovation and entrepreneurship; 
  6. Vigorous partnerships and networks; and 
  7. Sound governance and management.

 

 

 

The University occupies 15 hectares near the Windhoek Central Business District. It is a vibrant and interesting blend of historic and modern buildings with state-of-the-art classrooms, auditoria, laboratories, library and technological infrastructure, including campus-wide wi-fi connectivity. Apart from residential facilities for students, the University has a modern Hotel School with accommodation, conference and restaurant facilities that are open to the public. 

 

 

 

The promotion of a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, underpinned by a well-established research base, in tandem with other components of our research and teaching landscape. This will assist us in transforming these research and innovation outputs into commercially viable and socially relevant products and services through the pursuance of internationalisation through strategic partnerships across the quadruple helix. 

 

 

 

 

The University operates in a highly technological environment in terms of academic programmes and services and offers highly rated programmes in computing and informatics, technology and engineering in Namibia. 

 

 

The vision of the University is to enhance the teaching and learning competencies of faculty and students through the use of innovative methodologies and technologies that ensure success for all.

 

 

 

Statistics at NUST

Click below to visit Statistics Website

  • the Namibia Energy Institute (NEI): 
  • the Integrated Land Management Institute (ILMI): contributes to Namibia’s industrialization by linking green energy research, technology and education to the needs of industry, and to national socio-economic development imperatives, initiatives and programmes. 
  • the Biodiversity Research Centre: addresses challenges and opportunities in the sectors of biodiversity, conservation, wildlife management, community-based natural resource management and general environmental management. 

  • India-Namibia Centre for Excellence in Information Technology (INCEIT): focuses on offering training in specialised areas of Information Technology to have an international outreach for imparting ICT education and enhancing research initiatives in Namibia. 

  • Centre for Excellence in Mineral Beneficiation (CEMB): to promote ground-breaking research and innovation in mining, mineral beneficiation and further value addition in Namibia as well as environmental and socio-economic issues linked to the mineral sector 

  • Earth Observation and Satellite Applications Research and Training Centre (EOSA-RTC)
  • Namibian German Institute for Logistics (NGIL): aims to support the tasks and needs of the local transportation and logistics industry through state-of-the-art know-how in logistics research, education and practice. 

  • Agricultural Trade Policy Institute [ATPI]: To facilitate and provide support to sector-based projects, while at the same time straightening policy, institutional and technical layers as well as to provide evidence-based research results to inform decision-making in the agricultural food sector. 

 

 

 

  • UNESCO Chair for Gender in Digital Technologies: aims to increase women and girls’ greater participation in designing and developing digital technologies and increasing the number of women and girls entering and remaining in the fields of Computing and Engineering. 
  • UNESCO Chair in Strengthening Focused Research in the “Smart and Secure Environment (SSE)”: aims to contribute to and accelerate the development of the Namibian society, building the foundations for technology by creating a critical mass of high-level expertise in the related field of Smart and Secure Environment. 
  • UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Research for Climate Adaptation and Saline Agriculture in Arid Environments: aims to to add value to UNESCO’s programmatic activities and contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda, and complement the Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers Project.
  • UNESCO Chair on Secure High-performance Computing for Higher Education and Research


The University has an extensive network of global partnerships with universities, research institutions and development agencies. Partnerships promote international benchmarking and recognition of the programmes, through joint curriculum development, research and services delivery. 

Close collaboration with the Namibian Government, civic society, local industry and corporations is a key feature of the Institution’s operations. These partnerships play an important role in ensuring that the academic, research and outreach activities are closely aligned with, and are relevant to, national human resources needs and developmental priorities. 

Qualifications offered by the University enjoy international recognition and are developed in close cooperation with the public and private sectors, professional bodies and universities globally. 

  • Best Higher Education Institution in Namibia, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Institution Offering Executive Education in Namibia, Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Company/Institution doing most to fight HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education/tertiary Institution PMR - 2018 
  • Shell Eco-Marathon Challenge, second place 2018 
  • 2018 First two Doctrates Award 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education Institution in Namibia (Professional Management Review (PMR)) Diamond Award -2017 
  • Most Innovative Institutions in Namibia (Professional Management Review(PMR)) Diamond Award -2017 
  • Sustainable Development Award in Research and Development in Namibia (Department of Natural Resources and Agriculture Sciences) -2017
  • Platinum Award at Best Exhibitor in Indoor Category at Annual Windhoek Agricultural and Industrial Show. - 2017 and 2018 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education Institution in Namibia [Professional Management Review (PMR)] Diamond Arrow Award - 2015 
  • International Quality Crown Award, London by Business Initiative Directions (BID) presented the to the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) - 2015 
  • Silver Pigeon Award for the Best National Contribution at the London Festival of Architecture - July 2012 
  • Commonwealth of Learning Award for Institutional Excellence in Distance Education to the Centre of Open and Lifelong Learning (COLL) 2011
  • Best Higher Education Institution in Namibia, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Institution Offering Executive Education in Namibia, Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School of Business, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Company/Institution doing most to fight HIV/AIDS in Namibia, Diamond Arrow Award (2019) 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education/tertiary Institution PMR - 2018 
  • Shell Eco-Marathon Challenge, second place 2018 
  • 2018 First two Doctrates Award 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education Institution in Namibia (Professional Management Review (PMR)) Diamond Award -2017 
  • Most Innovative Institutions in Namibia (Professional Management Review(PMR)) Diamond Award -2017 
  • Sustainable Development Award in Research and Development in Namibia (Department of Natural Resources and Agriculture Sciences) -2017
  • Platinum Award at Best Exhibitor in Indoor Category at Annual Windhoek Agricultural and Industrial Show. - 2017 and 2018 
  • Best Higher Tertiary Education Institution in Namibia [Professional Management Review (PMR)] Diamond Arrow Award - 2015 
  • International Quality Crown Award, London by Business Initiative Directions (BID) presented the to (CED) - 2015 
  • Silver Pigeon Award for the Best National Contribution at the London Festival of Architecture - July 2012 
  • Commonwealth of Learning Award for Institutional Excellence in Distance Education to  (COLL) 2011


Quality assurance for academic programmes is provided through the following institutions: 

  1. Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA). 
  2. National Council for Higher Education (NCHE)
  3. Professional Bodies, e.g. Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN), Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA), etc. 

History of NUST

Higher education in Namibia started around 1979/80. Prior to this, all students wishing to pursue higher education had to study abroad or through distance education.

The Namibia University of Science and Technology, a public university, has its roots in the establishment of the Academy for Tertiary Education (Act No. 13 of 1980). Classes in Teacher Training and Secretarial Courses started on 14 January 1980.
Five years later, Act No. 9 of 1985 was promulgated and, by it, the Academy - consisting of a university component, a Technikon and a College for Out of School Training (COST) - was established.

The Technikon offered a total of 17 Diploma and Certificate programmes in Agriculture and Nature Conservation, Personnel Management, Public Administration, Cost Accounting, Secretarial and Communicative and Legal Training.  The College for Out-of-School Training (COST) offered 13 certificate courses in Technical and Commerce/General areas. Some of the courses included pre-tertiary teacher training.

Shortly after independence in 1990 it was resolved to restructure the three components into two independent higher education institutions, namely, a university and a polytechnic.

Act No. 18 of 1992 saw the establishment of the University of Namibia, leaving the Technikon and COST together as a stand-alone unit, however, under the auspices of the new university, until the promulgation of the Polytechnic Act.

Two years later, with the establishment of the Polytechnic of Namibia (Act No. 33 of 1994), Technikon Namibia and COST merged to become the Polytechnic of Namibia. The Act provided for the phasing out of vocational training courses and the granting of degrees by the Polytechnic.

The former “City Campus” (former Academy) became the main campus of the Polytechnic under its founding Rector, Dr Tjama Tjivikua, who was appointed on 04 August 1995.  The first meeting of Council was held on 10 August 1995.  These events accelerated and completed the de-linkage of the two institutions of higher education in December 1995. Thus, with effect from 01 January 1996, the Polytechnic became independent and autonomous.

After 20 years of tremendous growth and relentless pursuit of a new status under the visionary leadership of Dr Tjivikua, the Polytechnic was renamed as the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Act No. 7 of 2015).  The University is ranked as the best higher education institution in Namibia, since 2002 (PMR africa) and most innovative institution /or organisation in Namibia (PMR africa 2014 and 2016), and has won numerous local and international awards.

The University’s governing structure comprises the Council (supreme policy-making body), Senate and a Students’ Representative Council.  The Vice-Chancellor is supported primarily by a Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching, Learning and Technolgy; Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Finance and Operations, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships; and a Registrar.

Reports

Research Report 2023
Research Report 2022
Research Report 2021
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2016
Annual Report 2015
NUST SHIELD

 

A-Z Listing

ADS Academic Development and Support
ADSTLT Academic Development Support, Teaching, Learning and Technology
ALUMNI Alumni and NUST Foundation
ATPI Agriculture Trade Policy Institute
BI Business Intelligence
BRC Biodiversity Research Centre
BUSH Biomass Utilisation by Sustainable Harvest
CE Cooperative Education
CED Centre for Enterprise Development
CEI Corporate Engagement and Internationalisation
CEMB Centre for Excellence in Mineral Beneficiation
CSQA Corporate Strategy and Quality Assurance
DSS Department of Student Services
DTBS Digital Transformation Business Services
DVC-FO Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Finance and Operations
DVC-RIP Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Partnerships
DVC-TLT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching, Learning and Technology
EOSA Earth Observation and Satellite Application
EOSARTC Earth Observation and Satellite Applications Research and Training Centre
FabLab Fabrication Laboratory
FCHSE Faculty of Commerce, Human Sciences and Education
FCI Faculty of Computing and Informatics
FEBE Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
FHNRAS Faculty of Health, Natural Resources and Applied Sciences
Finance Finance
Hotel School NUST Hotel School
HP-GSB The Harold Pupkewitz Graduate School Of Business
HR Human Resources
HTTPS High-Tech Plaza Select
ILMI Integrated Land Management Institute
INCEIT India-Namibia Centre Of Excellence In Information Technology
MTC Mathematics Tutoring Centre
MTI Material Testing Institute
NBII Namibian Business Innovation Institute
NEI Namibia Energy Institute
NGIL Namibia-German Institute For Logistics
NGSA Namibia Graduate School of Accounting
NIST Namibia Institute of Space Technology
NQF Qualifications Registered on NQF
P3ICL Protecting, Preserving and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Cultures and Languages
PDQA Programme Development and Quality Assurance
Registrar Office of the Registrar
SCIONA Skeleton Coast IONA transfrontier park Technology for Conservation
VC Vice Chancellor
Writing Unit Writing Unit