Prof. David R. Namwandi advocates for expansion of the market to absorb the skilled workforce produced by universities.

Prof. David R. Namwandi made this clarion call at the Namibia Higher Education Day on 8 August 2024 held at the University of Namibia Main Campus in Windhoek in conjunction with the RUFORUM 2nd Triennial Conference.

The gathering brought together Namibia’s broadbased minds , including educationists, professors, and industry leaders, in an atmosphere charged with passion and purpose. It served as a potent reminder that the future of Namibia is intricately tied to the strength and quality of its higher education system. The dialogues and debates that ensued were anything but routine; they were profound, pushing intellectual boundaries and laying the foundation for a more robust and innovative nation.

In her opening address, Dr. Kandjii-Murangi, the Minister of Higher Education ,Training and Innovation, called for a united effort across the continent to reflect on and enhance its role in shaping the future, emphasizing the power of collaboration among like-minded educationists and industry leaders, united by a progressive philosophy to drive transformative change in the nation.

In turn, Prof. Dr. David Richard Namwandi, Founder and Council Chair of the International University of Management (IUM), seized the moment to engage in a scholarly discourse, stressing the crucial need for the government to invest heavily in basic education. He poignantly argued that basic education forms the bedrock of a nation’s educational system. If the foundation is weak, the entire structure is compromised. Prof. Namwandi highlighted that universities are struggling, not because they lack capacity, but because they are building on shaky ground due to inadequate primary and secondary education systems.

Prof. Namwandi also addressed a prevailing narrative suggesting that Namibian higher education institutions are producing graduates who struggle to find employment. He refuted this claim, asserting that the issue lies not with the graduates themselves but with a stagnant market and a lack of industrialisation. He passionately advocated for an expansion of the market to absorb the skilled workforce being produced by the country’s universities. Prof Namwandi further, declared that no Namibian should go to bed hungry, calling for an education system that is not only about acquiring knowledge but about delivering tangible outcomes that improve the lives of all citizens. His vision is clear: an education system that equips Namibians to build a nation where every individual’s basic needs are met, and where education serves as the catalyst for national development and prosperity.