The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Angola's University of Namibe (UNINBE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen academic cooperation between the two institutions.
The agreement will promote staff and student exchanges, joint research and collaboration in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), among other academic activities.
NUST Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Niikondo says the partnership is a milestone that will strengthen academic ties between the two neighbouring countries while advancing research and innovation in Africa.
" is one of the milestones that are going now to pave our way forward in terms of the academic activities, staff exchange, and research. We are all members of the Southern African Development Community, but usually what we do is we usually sign agreements with other countries. Sometimes across the ocean, but we are not cooperating with our own, just across."
UNINBE Rector Professor Alfredo Muacahila says the agreement will enhance dialogue and knowledge-sharing and create opportunities for student and staff mobility through various support programmes.
"This Memorandum of Understanding will provide us with, among other things, three concrete benefits. First, mobility. Students, lecturers and staff will have the opportunity to learn, teach and conduct research in different environments. We will also be able to jointly access funding for common projects after the agreement is implemented, which will broaden our horizons."
NUST Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stanley says the institutions will prioritise collaboration in marine biology, agriculture, science and technology, green hydrogen, the green economy and mining.
"These fields are aligned with the priorities of both countries, Namibia and Angola. As neighbouring coastal nations, we share many common challenges. Therefore, we need to use this partnership to build multidisciplinary research teams, prepare competitive proposals for regional and international funding, and share research infrastructure and laboratory capacity."
The university says the partnership is intended to deliver practical research outcomes while creating opportunities for NUST to benefit from UNINBE's international collaborations with universities in Portugal, Brazil and other countries in the Global South, as well as access financial support for joint programmes and research projects.