NUST Students Join Namibia-China Dialogue on Media and Academic Cooperation
Students from NUST joined counterparts from the University of Namibia (UNAM) as think-tank representatives at the Jiangxi Culture Goes to International Sister Cities – Namibia event, positioning the two institutions as potential academic partners in knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and youth development opportunities arising from strengthened Namibia-China cooperation.
The event brought together government representatives, media practitioners, academics, scholars, journalism students and think-tank members. Discussions explored Namibia-China relations and opportunities for deeper cultural, media and academic exchange.
Attended by approximately 120 delegates at the Avani Hotel in Windhoek, the event had a standout moment where a Media Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Jiangxi International Communication Centre and New Era Publication Corporation. The agreement formalised cooperation centred on public-interest media, cultural storytelling, journalism education, and people-to-people exchange.
New Era Publication Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Christof Maletsky, said plans were also underway to establish a joint communication centre to facilitate greater cooperation and exchanges between media organisations in Namibia and China. “In our industry, we often say that whoever controls the narrative controls the future. For too long, the stories of the Global South, and of Namibia in particular, have been filtered through external lenses that fail to capture our true dynamism, our struggles and our triumphs,” Maletsky highlighted.
For Bachelor of Journalism and Media Technology student, Irene-Mari van der Walt, attending the dialogue provided a practical lens through which to consider concepts encountered in the classroom. “It broadened my thinking around a lot of the concepts we are learning about currently and will help me to have more productive discussions in class going forward,” she said.
The participation of NUST and UNAM students in the dialogue highlighted the value of creating platforms where young people can engage with international perspectives and contribute to cross-cultural understanding. As Namibia and China continue to strengthen their ties, such engagements could open new pathways for academic collaboration, research and youth development.
