There is a need to build a bridge between industry demands and academics in the area of media and journalism.
It is for this reason that the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation entered into an agreement with the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
The three-year Memorandum of Understanding seeks to formalise the existing collaboration between nbc and NUST.
Currently, the nbc has a string of university students from NUST undergoing their internship at the public broadcaster, and the MoU means to strengthen and empower them through work-integrated learning while allowing for practical assessment of students by nbc employees.
Leah Thomas is a Journalism and Media graduate from NUST who joined the national broadcaster in 2023 as part of the NUST-nbc internship programme, and is now a producer for TV Current Affairs programmes.
The agreement, which outlines key areas of strategic partnership, seeks to enhance cooperation between the two institutions, fostering capacity-building, industry integration, and knowledge exchange.
"Why NUST? Because they are very practical. Even before we have been absorbing students who are studying here to do practicals from an internship point of view, and this process now formalises that all your students, if there are fields that are relevant to what we do as nbc. Remember, we are not just a media house, but we are in business. They will be more than welcome to come and form part of what we do, and through that, we also learn," assured nbc DG Stanley Similo.
At the signing, NUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Erold Naomab noted that the agreement is closely aligned with the university's Journalism and Media Technology programmes.
"There is no doubt that the nbc has a vast reach in telling stories of Namibians from all walks of life. This is the work of nbc while NUST has the expertise and the resource bases to mould the students of the future. Our combined efforts will be the bridge between education and industry, one that prepares our students to meet the demands of the media landscape."
Through the agreement, the two institutions will also look at ways to ensure that journalism and media thrive in the emerging AI and digital era.