New Unesco Chair at NUST to digitise indigenous knowledge

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) on Wednesday launched the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Chair in Digital Technology Design with Indigenous People.This marks a major step in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to preserve and celebrate indigenous knowledge systems, languages and cultural heritage.Speaking at the official launch, deputy education minister Dino Ballotti highlighted the urgent need to digitise and protect indigenous cultures while ensuring that communities remain custodians of their knowledge.“This Chair radically disrupts the pattern of exclusion. Indigenous knowledge will not just be stored but will guide how digital tools are built, using the principles of Ubuntu and co-design,” Ballotti told attendees at NUST’s High Tech Transfer Plaza Select.Priority researchThe Unesco Chair is an academic position established at a university or research institution to promote international collaboration and advance research in priority areas.NUST currently holds three such positions, and this latest appointment further reinforces the institution’s commitment to global academic excellence and inclusive research innovation.The position is held by Professor Heike Winschiers-Theophilus, an award-winning researcher with over two decades of experience working alongside indigenous communities in Namibia.A pioneer in participatory technology design, she is internationally recognised for her work in integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into ethical, community-centred digital innovation. Her appointment as chairperson cements her role as a global leader in inclusive digital transformation.Tools to remember and preserveThe Unesco Chair places a strong emphasis on using AI and immersive technologies like virtual reality to capture oral histories, rituals and philosophies that have traditionally been passed down through generations.“Imagine learning environments where students can virtually walk alongside elders in Otjiza or Donkerbos,” Ballotti said. “These are not futuristic dreams, they are real possibilities enabled by this Chair.”Ballotti pledged that the ministry would support the integration of indigenous knowledge into the national education curriculum, ensuring that young learners see themselves and their heritage reflected in both content and digital tools.The event drew participation from researchers, Indigenous knowledge holders, academics and international guests, including Unesco's Eunice Smith.Ballotti acknowledged NUST’s national leadership in research, noting that four of the five Unesco Chairs in Namibia are housed at the institution.“This is more than an academic milestone,” he noted. “It is a reaffirmation of Namibia’s dedication to inclusion, innovation and Indigenous empowerment in line with global Unesco priorities.”

New Unesco Chair at NUST to digitise indigenous knowledge

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-17

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New Unesco Chair at NUST to digitise indigenous knowledge

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-17

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