SDG: Partnerships for the Goals
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is committed to advancing Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, recognising that sustainable development requires shared knowledge, collective action and strong collaboration. Through partnerships with government, industry, civil society, communities and academic institutions locally and internationally, NUST connects education, research and innovation with national and global development priorities. By promoting cross-sectoral dialogue, knowledge exchange and capacity development, the University seeks to translate these partnerships into practical solutions that support an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.
17.2.1: Relationships with regional NGOs and government for SDG policy
In line with the vision of advancing Namibia's education system, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation (MHETI), Hon Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, appointed a taskforce to oversee the transformation of state-owned Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. The Registrar of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Prof Sifiso Nyathi, was appointed to chair the taskforce and will collaborate with experts from the Namibia Training Authority, the University of Namibia, various ministries, and other stakeholders to drive this transformative initiative. Taskforce Appointed to Transform TVET Centres into Colleges |
17.2.2: Cross-sectoral dialogue about SDGs
NUST actively facilitates cross-sectoral dialogue on the SDGs through conferences and summits that bring academia together with government, industry, civil society, or communities. In 2025, NUST hosted or co-organised the following dialogues:
| No. | Cross-sectoral dialogue | Focus | SDG |
| 1. | AfroTech Namibia 2025 Conference AfroTech Namibia 2025 Unites AI, Innovation and Inclusion to Shape a Smarter Future | | Artificial intelligence, innovation and inclusion, including opportunities for women, youth and rural communities | 5, 8, 9, 10 and 17 |
| 2. | NUST Innovation Day: “From Ideas to Impact” — 31 July 2025, NUST-i, Windhoek. ‘From Ideas to Impact’: A Defining Moment for Innovation at NUST | | Entrepreneurship education, intellectual property, start-up financing and translating research into practical solutions. | 4, 8, 9 and 17 |
| 3. | Ecology Custodian Day and the Indigenous People’s Knowledge Fair 2025 Ecology Custodian Day and the Indigenous People’s Knowledge Fair 2025 | | Biodiversity conservation, climate action, human–wildlife coexistence and integrating Indigenous knowledge into education, health and conservation. | 4, 10, 13, 15 and 17. |
| 4. | Solar Water Heating Symposium NEI Hosts Solar Water Heating Symposium | | Solar thermal technologies, standards, certification and gender mainstreaming in the solar-energy sector | 5, 7, 9, 13 and 17. |
| 5. | International Cancer Genomics Conference Namibia Hosts First Cancer Genomics Conference | | A high-level panel addressed cancer genomics in Africa, including policy, funding, data security and equitable health systems | 3, 9, 10 and 17 |
| 6. | 2025 NUST TVET Conference Strengthening Namibia’s TVET Skills Agenda | | Sustainable skills development, industry–education alignment, gender-responsive training and preparation for the green economy | 4, 5, 7, 8 and 17. |
| 7. | NamTip stakeholder workshops and policy dissemination NamTip’s Focus on Impact, Policy, and Community Voices | | desertification, sustainable rangeland management and ecological restoration | 2, 13, 15 and 17 |
17.2.3: International collaboration data gathering for SDG
NUST launched the UNESCO Chair in Digital Technology Design with Indigenous People. In July 2025. Under the leadership of Prof Heike Winschiers-Theophilus, the Chair focuses on human-computer interaction research that empowers Indigenous communities to preserve, shape, and share their cultural heritage on their own terms. Fourth UNESCO Research Chair launched at NUST |
17.2.4: Collaboration for SDG best practice
NUST and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have explored synergies to pursue collaborative multi-disciplinary research, focused on low-carbon energy solutions. This partnership is spearheaded by NUST’s Namibia Energy Institute (NEI) and TUT’s Hub of the AI Institute of South Africa (AIISA). Both institutions are committed to harnessing innovative technology to drive sustainable development, particularly in the energy sector. NUST and TUT Explore AI-Enabled Energy Solutions |
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2024, NUST hosted a delegation from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) to discuss potential collaborations in education, research, and programme development with the aim of strengthening ties for Academic Excellence. https://www.nust.na/nust-and-mut-strengthen-ties-academic-excellence
Two NUST staff members represented the university at the International Partnership Week, hosted by Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) Ravensburg, Germany. Funded by the Erasmus+ programme and facilitated by NUST’s International Relations office, the event brought together university professionals from around the world to foster collaboration and share best practices in higher education. International Partnership Week in Germany |
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NUST and the Nurture Higher Education Group (UK), a transnational education provider focused on expanding access to international learning opportunities. The agreement aims to support NUST’s internationalisation strategy by exploring a Global Academy Partnership Model, broadening student and faculty development opportunities, and fostering academic collaborations. Strengthening Global and Inclusive Education Partnerships |
Johannes Elifas, a third-year Bachelor of Business Management student at the NUST Eenhana Campus, completed a semester abroad at Kempten University of Applied Sciences in Germany. His journey was made possible through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship, under the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education Exchange (SEEE) Project. Eenhana Student Embraces International Exchange Opportunity |
NUST signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVÜ) in Türkiye, marking a new chapter of a strategic partnership. The MoU is aimed at enhancing academic excellence through joint research, student and staff exchange programmes, and innovation-driven collaboration. The focal areas include several priority sectors, such as tourism, agriculture, health, technology, and cultural heritage. Building Academic Bridges: Namibia to Turkey |
17.2.5: Collaboration with NGOs for SDGs
In a spirited display of ingenuity and collaboration, the ImpactLab Hackathon brought together some of Namibia’s most promising student innovators in a dynamic, solution-driven environment. This pioneering initiative was made possible through a strategic collaboration between Schoemans, NUST and MTC. Aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges through practical, tech-based solutions, the hackathon created a vibrant platform for critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. https://www.nust.na/cultivating-innovation-societal-impact
17.3 PUBLICATION OF SDG REPORTS
17.3.1 Publication of SDG reports - SDG1: No Poverty
17.3.2 Publication of SDG reports - SDG2: Zero Hunger
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.3 Publication of SDG reports - SDG3: Good Health and Well-being
17.3.4 Publication of SDG reports - SDG4: Quality Education
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.5 Publication of SDG reports - SDG5: Gender Equality
17.3.6 Publication of SDG reports - SDG6: Clean Water and Sanitation
17.3.7 Publication of SDG reports - SDG7: Affordable and Clean energy
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.8 Publication of SDG reports - SDG8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.9 Publication of SDG reports - SDG9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.10 Publication of SDG reports - SDG10: Reduced Inequalities
17.3.11 Publication of SDG reports - SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.12 Publication of SDG reports - SDG12: Responsible production and Consumption
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.13 Publication of SDG reports - SDG13: Climate Action
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.14 Publication of SDG reports - SDG14: Life Below Water
17.3.15 Publication of SDG reports - SDG15: Life on Land
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.3.16 Publication of SDG reports - SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17.3.17 Publication of SDG reports - SDG17: Partnership for the Goals
NUST_Research_Report_2025_WEB.pdf
17.4 EDUCATION FOR THE SDGS
17.4.1 Education for SDGs commitment to meaningful education
17.4.2 Education for SDGs specific courses on sustainability
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) integrates sustainability education into the undergraduate curricula through Sustainability and Development (SYD611S), a mandatory core course that builds essential institutional competencies. Supported through the NUST eLearning Platform, the course emphasises translating global sustainability challenges into practical, locally relevant solutions, equipping students to contribute to sustainable development within their communities. https://elearning.nust.na/course/info.php?id=912
17.4.3 Education for SDGs in the wider community
NUST, in partnership with its stakeholders, organises sustainability-related learning with community members beyond the enrolled student population. Through the UNESCO Chair in Digital Technology Design with Indigenous People, in collaboration with UNESCO and the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, the Chair hosted Ecology Custodianship Day on 18 September 2025 at N/a’an ku sê Lodge. This event brought together more than 50 Indigenous knowledge holders from Namibia, South America, Canada, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and other countries, alongside government leaders, academics, and civil society partners. Ecology Custodian Day and the Indigenous People’s Knowledge Fair 2025 |
The learning and knowledge exchange addressed:
- Biodiversity conservation, climate action and human–wildlife coexistence.
- Preservation and intergenerational transmission of Indigenous knowledge.
- Responsible use of digital technologies to document cultural heritage.
- Integration of traditional knowledge into education, health and conservation systems.
Under the SmartVille Project, in collaboration with the NUST was a key partner in workshops involving farmers in Okakarara and Ozongarangombe, with field visits to Farm Hamakari. Activities shared knowledge on desertification, sustainable land use and ecological restoration. School learners also presented environmental education projects. NamTip’s Focus on Impact, Policy, and Community Voices |
NUST’s Namibia Energy Institute hosted the initiative offered community training in small-business management, bookkeeping, marketing and financial management. NUST lecturers also taught digital literacy. The project links entrepreneurship education with renewable-energy-supported community
The Community Conservation Fund of Namibia, in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), hosted an innovative three-day Astro Tourism Training Workshop, aimed at unlocking the potential of indigenous astronomy to promote cultural preservation, education, and sustainable tourism in Namibia. Empowering Indigenous Knowledge Through the Stars: Astro-Tourism Workshop Takes Place in Tsumkwe
Through the Revenue diversification pathways in Africa through bio-based and circular agricultural innovations (DIVAGRI) Project, the demonstration site at the Rietfontein NUST Satellite Campus showcases practical, small-scale technologies designed to improve yields, cut input costs, and restore land for rural communities. The team held training sessions for farmers and students, covering safe biogas use, biochar production, irrigation setup, and basic mushroom cultivation. Through Farm Ombe, one of the project’s demonstration sites, the project hosted young small-scale farmers for practical training on Biochar and Agritourism, demonstrating how bio-based circular practices can be adopted on small farms to build resilience and new income streams. https://www.nust.na/demo-site-turns-farm-waste-energy-soil-health-and-income
17.4.4 Sustainable Literacy
NUST offers a mandatory Sustainability course to all students supported through the NUST eLearning Platform (Moodle LMS), the official Learning Management System where lecturers host online modules, interactive quizzes, assignments, and formative/summative assessments to test student knowledge. The course emphasises translating global sustainability challenges into practical, locally relevant solutions, equipping students to contribute to sustainable development within their communities. https://elearning.nust.na/
