The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) has vowed to remain dedicated to driving Namibia's innovation, technology, research, and science fields through academic learning.
The university's Vice Chancellor, Professor Erold ||Naomab said this at the official opening of NUST's academic year for 2025 in Windhoek.
On the occasion, NUST celebrated its first decade of being defined as an innovation, science, and technology university.
The university was established in 1980, before Namibia's independence, as an institution offering teacher training, secretarial, and management courses.
After independence, it was restructured to Polytechnic of Namibia in 1991, where it offered degree programmes.
In 2015, it was transformed into the Namibia University of Science and Technology, a transformation that was driven by the need to align the institution with Namibia's developmental goals of promoting science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of socio-economic progress.
"We have expanded our academic offerings, enhanced our research capabilities, and built strong partnerships with both industry and international institutions. As we reflect on this decade of progress, we are also looking ahead with renewed ambition and determination to build an even stronger, more impactful university."
||Naomab revealed that over the 10 years, NUST has continuously demonstrated a transformative foresight by focusing on transitioning from a teaching-oriented university to a research-led and driven university.
"This is illustrated by a threefold increase in research output since 2015. In addition, NUST has produced more than 2,300 publications in high-end, reputable, peer-reviewed journals over the last five years. The success of NUST emerging as a world-class research-driven university is further demonstrated by research funding surpassing more than N$1 billion over the last five years, coupled with the graduation of more than 4,000 postgraduate students, including honours, masters, and PhD students. Revenue has surpassed N$1 billion consecutively over the past two years."
Further adding that over the last five years, they have also increased the offering of STEM programmes, resulting in a remarkable 52% increase in STEM enrolment.
"NUST's socio-economic impact transcends generations and continues to support new and emerging sectors of our economy. We continue to serve the public good and public interest through building national human resource capacity, research, policy advocacy, community outreach, and technology development."
To date, they have four campuses and 11 regional centres countrywide, while its student numbers are expected to double to more than 22,000 by the end of this year, and it plans to open another campus in Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe area.