1 IRNEWS

PON Partners with DHBW

Equatorial Guinea Ambassador

visits the Polytechnic

Polytechnic of Namibia: International Relations Department

Newsletter 2014 ▶ MAR/APR Issue

DAAD Funded Opportunities

PON and B360 form Alumni Association

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International Relations ▶ Poly Heights, Room 101 ▶ Tel: +264 61 2072250 email: ctlhabanello@polytechnic.edu.na

So you want to go on Exchange Programme?

We offer the following to Polytechnic students:• Access to 4 continents through our 115 international partnerships• Information sessions on international exchange programmes and opportunities• Guidance on planning your exchange opportunity• Support with logistics, academic matters, and communication with partner institutions• Advise on what to expect and how to maximize the benefits of your exchange stay • Continued support and communication throughout your exchange stay

Are you eager to broaden your horizons? Would you like to gain international experience? If so, the Department of International Relations is just what you need to get you started on your international education journey.

For more information visit www.polytechnic.edu.na, orvisit our offices in Poly Heights Room 101!

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The Equatorial Guinea Ambassador to Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Mozambique, His Excellency Mr Jose Esono Micha Akeng, paid a courtesy visit to the Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia on 2 April 2014. The Ambassador was on a month long visit to Namibia seeking to increase cooperation in higher education between the two countries. He lamented that there were currently no students from his country studying in Namibia and sought to remedy the status quo. He expressed that his government was particularly interested in sending students for programs in agriculture and fisheries, which are priority for their national development. In his part, the Rector assured the Ambassador that the Polytechnic is well equipped to receive students and give them a world class education in priority fields and beyond.

Equatorial Guinea Ambassador visits the Polytechnic

FORGING NEW TIES: Prof Tjama Tjivikua, Rector and His Excellency Mr Jose Esono Micha Akeng, Ambassador to Namibia from Equatorial Guinea.

The Polytechnic of Namibia and the B360 Education Partnerships have established an Alumni Association of Poly students who have completed internships with Swiss companies. The two institutions also renewed the original Memorandum of Understanding signed five years ago.

The B360 Education Partnerships, a non-profit Swiss organisation, focuses on the transfer of knowledge and capacity building by means of education and voluntary education. The B360 Education Partnerships encourages Swiss companies and their active or retired workforce to voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise with students in Southern Africa. This voluntary approach sets them apart from many other organisations.

The experts, upon returning home, find internship opportunities for Poly students with Swiss companies. “This give-and-take partnership has grown faster than anyone

could have imagined, and after the first two students were placed at a local Swiss Bank in 2011, many more companies in Switzerland have shown a willingness to take in Poly students. To date, the B360 Education Partnerships has placed 17 students from various disciplines at different companies in Switzerland,” explained Sabina Balmer, Founder and President of B360 Education Partnerships.

Balmer said the Alumni Association was established primarily to give the group of young Namibians who have shared experiences, the opportunity to be part of the goals of B360 and to contribute to capacity building in Southern Africa.

The Rector, Prof Tjama Tjivikua, said the collaboration and continued growth is stronger than before. “In addition to exposing students to the international workforce, the B360 Education Partnerships is about building character,” he said.

PON and B360 form Alumni Association

POLYTECHNIC O F N A M I B I A

transforming into Namibia University of Science and Technology

email: dcm@polytechnic.edu.naDepartment of Communications & Marketing

Poly and B360 form Alumni Association

The Poly and the B360 Education Partnerships have established an Alumni Association of Poly students who have completed internships with Swiss companies. The two institutions also renewed the original Memorandum of Understanding signed five years ago.

The B360 Education Partnerships, a nonprofit Swiss organisation, focuses on the transfer of knowledge and capacity building by means of education and voluntary education. The B360 Education Partnerships encourages Swiss compa-nies and their active or retired workforce to voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise with students in Southern Africa. This voluntary approach sets them apart from many other organisations.

The experts, upon returning home, find internship opportunities for Poly students with Swiss compa-nies. “This give-and-take partnership has grown faster than anyone could have imagined, and after the first two students were placed at a local Swiss Bank in 2011, many more companies in Switzerland have shown a willingness to take in Poly students. To date, the B360 Education Partnerships has placed 17 students from various disciplines at different companies in Switzerland,” explained Sabina Balmer, Founder and President of B360 Education Partnerships.

Balmer said the Alumni Association was estab-lished primarily to give the group of young Namibians who have shared experiences, the opportunity to be part of the goals of B360 and to contribute to capacity building in Southern Africa. The Rector, Prof Tjama Tjivikua, said the collaboration and continued growth is stronger than before. “In addition to exposing students to the international workforce, the B360 Education Partnerships is about building character,” he said.

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Sabina Balmer of B360 Education Partnerships and Prof Tjama Tjivikua sign the Memorandum of Understanding.

04 April 2014

Sabina Balmer of B360 Education Partnerships and Prof Tjama Tjivikua sign

the Memorandum of Understanding.

Some of the first members of the Alumni Association: Back row: Selma Halidilu, Elise

Uusiku, Ndapewa Kwedhi, Justina Keendjele, Christalin Mushongo and Charmain Jagger,

Front row: Nicco Matengu, Nancee de Koe, Ilona Shikongo, Ruth Andreas, Saara Shatumbu, Martha Hanhindi and Martin

Edward

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PON Partners with DHBW Can you imagine a university where all the students already have contracts of employment? Further imagine that students are only taught for three months and work for another three months on a rotational basis until they complete their three years bachelor degree education.

Such a university in fact exists. Recently, the Polytechnic of Namibia (PON) signed a partnership agreement with Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) in Germany during the visit of Mr Thomas Schieber: Manager of International Affairs, and Dr Karin Reinhard: Head of Department of International Business.

Explaining the set-up at his university to the PON management during a welcome dinner, Mr Schieber said that it is a requirement for lecturers to have five years of industrial experience at an executive level.

“We do not select students, the industry does.” He explained, adding that the industry trains students as part of their investment in human capital development. During their attachment to the industry, the students implement what they have been taught. In the same vein, when they return to the classes, they theorise based on their practical experience in the industry.

According to Mr Schieber, DHBW is the first higher education institution in Germany that combines practical workplace training and academic studies, therefore achieves a close integration of theory and practice, essential components of a dual studies system.

The university has about 34 000 enrolled students and 9 000 partner companies. While the official seat of the

university is in Stuttgart, there are eight campuses in various locations across the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. The University offers a broad range of Bachelor degree programmes in the fields of business, engineering, and social work. All degree programmes are nationally and internationally accredited, count as intensive study programs, and are worth 210 ECTS credits.

Upon graduation, Schieber said students are capable of meeting professional demands immediately, “which is a major competitive advantage in the labor market”.

He emphasised that the dual studies concept ensures that the graduates are highly employable, which is clearly demonstrated by the recruitment rate as more than 90 percent of DHBW graduates are taken on by their workplace training providers.

The Polytechnic’s partnership with DHBW is intended to tap into its partners database with the aim of sending PON students for experiential learning. This will ensure a smooth transition into professions with excellent career opportunities.

Signed and Sealed: Acting Director of International Relations: Ms Theodora Nandjaa-Mweuta; Rector: Prof Tjama Tjivikua; Dr Karin Reinhard and Mr Thomas Schieber signing the MOU.

DHBW meets PON Deans and Directors: Seated: Ms Neavera Olivier: Institutional Planner; Ms Theodora

Nandjaa-Mweuta: Acting Director of International Relations; Mr Thomas Schieber; Prof Tjama Tjivikua: PON Rector; Dr Karin

Reinhard; Dr Sarala Krishnamurthy: Dean, School of Humanities. Standing: Mr Carva Pop: Director, Center for Cooperative

Education; Prof Roy du Preez: Transformation Consultant; Dr Samuel John: Dean, School of Engineering; Emeritus Laureate Professor John Ralston: Visiting Professor from University of

South Autralia; Mr Kofi Boamah: Dean, School of Management; Mr Lameck Mwewa: Dean, School of Natural Resources and

Spatial Sciences; Prof Hippolyte Muyingi: Dean, School of Computing and Informatics.

DAAD Funded Opportunities for Academics and StudentsFor more details on the programmes and requirements,

visit the DAAD website at www.daad.deYou can also contact the DAAD representative in Windhoek:

Dr Corinna Haeger at chaeger@unam.nafor specific questions not addressed on the website.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers various opportunities for academic staff and students to go to Germany. Through its Sub-Sahara Africa Programmes, the DAAD provides:

• Research grants • Practical traineeships • Study visits• Research stays • Visiting lectureships

• Bilateral exchanges for academics

• Scholarships for academic staff development