Global Learning, Local Impact
The International Education Week was recently hosted by the International Relations office, under the theme Global Learning, Local Impact: Shaping Global Citizens at NUST. A timely reminder that global exposure is most powerful when it is rooted in local purpose. The week highlighted how studying abroad, hosting international students, and learning across cultures strengthen education, diplomacy, and global understanding.
Spanning over three days, the programme celebrated internationalisation not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical pathway to national development. Helena Kuzee, the Deputy Director: International Organisations, delivered remarks at the official opening event on behalf of the Ministry of International Relations and Trade. “We must produce graduates who are confident in global spaces, yet grounded in Namibian, and by extension, African realities. Individuals who understand diverse cultures, who can function across borders, but who remain committed to contributing meaningfully at home. This is what it means to shape global citizens,” she said.
That message came to life through student voices. During a testimony session, final-year Marketing Honours student Zenodine Bassinghtwaighte reflected on her exchange experience in Ravensburg, Germany. What began as a simple conversation with a professor evolved into an opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in London. “I was given access. Access to the world and access to opportunities beyond my comprehension back then,” she shared.
And NUST continues to expand such opportunities. “In March 2026, I signed an agreement enabling our students to participate in the Global Intercultural Project Experience (GIPE). This collaboration with Universidad Católica San Pablo in Peru, Westfälische Hochschule in Germany, and Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia aims to promote knowledge exchange, foster innovative solutions, and strengthen capacities within interdisciplinary and multicultural contexts,” stated Prof Andrew Niikondo, NUST Vice-Chancellor.
The week unfolded through dialogue and experience. From a café-style knowledge exchange that fostered cross-cultural conversations, to a vibrant cultural showcase featuring global cuisines prepared by students. NUST is home to 1 161 international students and 189 permanent staff from across the world, with representation spanning from Benin to Pakistan, and from Cuba to the United Kingdom.
