The International University of Management (IUM), in partnership with the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), will be hosting the Southern African Association for Research in Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education (SAARMSTE) conference next year to promote research.

The conference, which promotes research and collaboration in the fields of mathematics, science, and technology education, will be hosted on the IUM Campus in Windhoek from the 16th to the 18th of January 2024.

The former President of SAARMSTE and professor of Science Education at Rhodes University, Kenneth Mlungisi, says the conference aims to build capacity.

"I must say upfront that this is a non-profit-based organisation; it does not make business or money; all that it wants is to see people grow together. Of course, we need to ask ourselves some hard questions. What is it that we need to do together as Africans to ensure that Africa is on the map and thrives?"

Professor Mlungisi emphasised that Africa needs to share resources for collaborative conferences such as SAARMSTE, urging Namibians to participate.

Speaking in support of the conference, IUM Founder Professor David Namwandi affirmed that science and innovation are the bridges to ending poverty.

"Science is power, and the divide between poor nations and rich nations has only one common denominator, and that's science and technology. If we don't train our students and give them the right information when it comes to science, we are doomed."

Professor Namwandi said working together should not end with the goals of liberation but can be further employed by capacitating the continent with science and innovation skills.

The first SAARMSTE conference was held in Drakensburg 31 years ago. This will be the second time it will be hosted in Namibia.