Fulbright Scholar Laos Concludes Successful Tenure at NUST
Gabriel Laos, a graduate teaching assistant and trained architect from the University of Tennessee in the United States of America, has successfully completed his ten-month tenure as a Fulbright Scholar at NUST.
Laos was attached to the Department of Architecture, Planning, and Construction (DAPC) within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment from February to November 2024.
Reflecting on his time at NUST, he shared: “I contributed to the educational quality of the DAPC, using my knowledge of architecture and communication skills to facilitate students’ design processes.”
Impressed by NUST’s international profile, Laos highlighted his collaboration with two of the University's global partners, Rhein-Main University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and the University of the Free State in South Africa. He attended final presentations with an invited panellist from the University of the Free State and travelled to Lüderitz with a visiting professor from Rhein-Main to explore urban heritage sites, which served as the foundation for student projects focused on German colonial buildings, he narrated.
During his attachment at the DAPC, Laos taught theory courses, provided informal thesis critiques for Master’s students, and delivered lectures on analogy drawing to both undergraduate and Master’s students.
Beyond his academic contributions, he extended his impact by advocating for the National Archives of Namibia. He wrote a letter to Ms Sanet Steenkamp, Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, to highlight concerns over budget and resource shortfalls. His advocacy focused on the need to expand personnel, improve training, enhance inventory management, update databases, and increase engagement opportunities with the public, particularly schools and universities.
Reflecting on his legacy in Namibia, Laos said: “I hope I have provided fresh perspectives, challenged students to ask questions, and instilled a sense of confidence through iterative design.”
“My stay at NUST was an excellent experience, and I would recommend the University to prospective Fulbright Scholars. The DAPC and the staff of the International Relations Office made my time stimulating and welcoming,” he added.
International Relations Coordinator, Theodora Mweuta, noted that NUST has become a preferred institution for Fulbright Scholars, having hosted eight scholars across all four faculties over the past five years. “This is part of our broader effort to internationalise the University. I am proud of our efficient processes for hosting Fulbright Scholars, which have earned us excellent referrals through word of mouth,” she said.
