Kandjii-Murangi urges institutions to strengthen research
Justicia Shipena
The higher education ministry, in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), the University of Namibia (Unam), the International University of Management (IUM) and the National Commission for Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), hosted the first annual National Student Research Symposium (NSRS) from 18 to 19 October under the theme ‘Nurturing potential, sharing knowledge’ at the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam).
The seminar was open to students from all institutions of higher education in Namibia and was aimed at giving them an opportunity to share their research work with their peers. It also aimed to stimulate the national intellectual climate through discussions and collaborations within and across disciplines and institutions.
According to Lisho Mundia, director of research and innovation in the higher education ministry, the NSRS originated at Nust as the Student Research Symposium for. The NSRS boasts the first-ever national steering committee, which comprises of three members from the ministry and two each from Nust, Unam, IUM and the NCRST.
Mundia, who is the chairperson of the steering committee, said their aim is to groom students and prepare them for any international stage in the world.
Higher education minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, says the ministry’s mission is to develop a mechanism to nurture Namibia’s young scientists and researchers to conduct high quality research and have the ability to translate research outcomes into innovative products.
“The strengthening of research and innovation capacity is mainly through encouraging the free-flow of development knowledge. This could be achieved by the sharing of knowledge through publications, public presentations and academic discussions,” she said.
Kandjii-Murangi added that the basis for research during undergraduate and postgraduate studies is not only receiving a degree, but strengthening the research components of higher education institutions. Research capacity developments, as part of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, have multifaceted impacts and throughout the research process students learn critical and analytical thinking skills and how to work independently, she said.
“Research is critical to a country’s economic and social development and is a good foundation for good policy development. Therefore, academics should freely debate contemporary development issues, in order to guide and influence national policymaking.”
The seminar was sponsored by NamPower, Neo-Professional Development Institute, Nipam, Nust, Unam, the NCRST and the ministry.
The higher education ministry, in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), the University of Namibia (Unam), the International University of Management (IUM) and the National Commission for Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), hosted the first annual National Student Research Symposium (NSRS) from 18 to 19 October under the theme ‘Nurturing potential, sharing knowledge’ at the Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam).
The seminar was open to students from all institutions of higher education in Namibia and was aimed at giving them an opportunity to share their research work with their peers. It also aimed to stimulate the national intellectual climate through discussions and collaborations within and across disciplines and institutions.
According to Lisho Mundia, director of research and innovation in the higher education ministry, the NSRS originated at Nust as the Student Research Symposium for. The NSRS boasts the first-ever national steering committee, which comprises of three members from the ministry and two each from Nust, Unam, IUM and the NCRST.
Mundia, who is the chairperson of the steering committee, said their aim is to groom students and prepare them for any international stage in the world.
Higher education minister, Itah Kandjii-Murangi, says the ministry’s mission is to develop a mechanism to nurture Namibia’s young scientists and researchers to conduct high quality research and have the ability to translate research outcomes into innovative products.
“The strengthening of research and innovation capacity is mainly through encouraging the free-flow of development knowledge. This could be achieved by the sharing of knowledge through publications, public presentations and academic discussions,” she said.
Kandjii-Murangi added that the basis for research during undergraduate and postgraduate studies is not only receiving a degree, but strengthening the research components of higher education institutions. Research capacity developments, as part of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, have multifaceted impacts and throughout the research process students learn critical and analytical thinking skills and how to work independently, she said.
“Research is critical to a country’s economic and social development and is a good foundation for good policy development. Therefore, academics should freely debate contemporary development issues, in order to guide and influence national policymaking.”
The seminar was sponsored by NamPower, Neo-Professional Development Institute, Nipam, Nust, Unam, the NCRST and the ministry.
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