A new dawn at the University of Namibia
Unam undergoing restructuring
Rivaldo Kavanga
The University of Namibia (Unam) on Thursday, 9 September, announced that it will have new schools and faculties as part of its restructuring. The university has reduced its faculties from 14 to only four, namely the faculty of agriculture, engineering and natural sciences, the faculty of commerce, management and law, the faculty of education and human sciences and the faculty of health sciences and veterinary medicine.
The restructuring has also brought about 16 different schools. Diina Egumbo, a third-year political science student, said the reduction in faculties will make administration easier and that having the four main faculties will help with management, provided work is put in from the administrators.
Meanwhile, Ashley Schwarz, a fourth-year law student, said the restructuring took place at a time when the university and its students are undergoing difficulties due to Covid-19.
“Classes are still online and any correspondence done with the faculty is via electronic communications, since the whole management was restructured, including head of departments. This puts a strain on the communication medium.”
The news of the restructuring has been met with mixed reactions. A number of students believe that the restructuring will help Unam with administration and management and are quite excited for the change, while others believe it is an admin nightmare waiting to happen.
“What is worse is that the majority of students are not aware of who forms part of the new management of the different departments/faculties and will still approach the former management for assistance. Even though one of the main aims of the restructuring was to save costs for the university, the timing was a disadvantage. It has really been a strenuous year. Hopefully it gets better as time goes,” Schwarz said.
The University of Namibia (Unam) on Thursday, 9 September, announced that it will have new schools and faculties as part of its restructuring. The university has reduced its faculties from 14 to only four, namely the faculty of agriculture, engineering and natural sciences, the faculty of commerce, management and law, the faculty of education and human sciences and the faculty of health sciences and veterinary medicine.
The restructuring has also brought about 16 different schools. Diina Egumbo, a third-year political science student, said the reduction in faculties will make administration easier and that having the four main faculties will help with management, provided work is put in from the administrators.
Meanwhile, Ashley Schwarz, a fourth-year law student, said the restructuring took place at a time when the university and its students are undergoing difficulties due to Covid-19.
“Classes are still online and any correspondence done with the faculty is via electronic communications, since the whole management was restructured, including head of departments. This puts a strain on the communication medium.”
The news of the restructuring has been met with mixed reactions. A number of students believe that the restructuring will help Unam with administration and management and are quite excited for the change, while others believe it is an admin nightmare waiting to happen.
“What is worse is that the majority of students are not aware of who forms part of the new management of the different departments/faculties and will still approach the former management for assistance. Even though one of the main aims of the restructuring was to save costs for the university, the timing was a disadvantage. It has really been a strenuous year. Hopefully it gets better as time goes,” Schwarz said.
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