Polytechnic of Namibia
Encyclopedia
The Polytechnic of Namibia, locally also known as Poly or Polytechnic, is an institute of tertiary education in Windhoek
, Namibia
. It has been established by Act 33 / 1994 of the Namibian Parliament
.
n administration defined three sections for this academy, a university part, the College of Out-of-School Training (COST) for vocational training
programs, and the Technikon Namibia for technical programs related to science and technology.
In 1992 the university section was detached from the foundation of the University of Namibia
(UNAM). The remaining sections, COST and Technikon, were merged to form the Polytechnic of Namibia per Act of Parliament in 1994.
The Polytechnic consists of two campuses and a number of scattered former residential buildings all located in the Windhoek West
suburb close to the city centre
. The main campus consists of the structures originally erected for the Academy for Tertiary Education. At its center is the Elisabeth house, Windhoek's former obstetric
hospital designed by Wilhelm Sander
in 1907. Elisabeth house is a national monument since 1986 and houses the Senate
chambers and the office of the Rector.
The Engineering campus is adjacent to the main campus; construction of this area started in 1995. Originally intended to house only the School of Engineering, this campus has gradually grown and accommodates the library, all auditoria
, and many of the other faculty venues.
the institution offers both higher-level vocational training and academic degrees in technical subjects and the applied science
s. In many cases these programs can be combined such that the academic degree can be attempted after a more basic vocational training was successfully passed.
The Polytechnic of Namibia comprises six academic schools and offers undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees in the areas of business and management, engineering, information technology, journalism, hospitality, natural resource management, and medicine. there are 86 undergraduate
and 19 postgraduate
degrees offered at the institution.
(UNAM). University rankings consistently list both institutions among Africa's Top-50, usually with UNAM a few places ahead of Polytechnic. However, on the Webometrics
list, the Polytechnic of Namibia occupies rank 30 in Africa (2,866 globally), and the University rank 54 (4,507).
On the local level, judging service and contributions to the Namibian economy, Polytechnic of Namibia usually tops all other educational institutions. In 2010 the argument about who delivers the best tertiary education in Namibia entered a new stage when a local study found the Polytechnic again to be far ahead in terms of services delivery. This study has subsequently been rejected by the Students’ Representative Council of UNAM but endorsed by Polytechnic management staff.
, stating upcoming overall changes to the Namibian education sector
as the reason to decline the name change.
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. It has been established by Act 33 / 1994 of the Namibian Parliament
Parliament of Namibia
Parliament is the law-making body of Namibia legislature. It consists of two chambers:#The National Assembly initiates and approves laws...
.
History
The Polytechnic emerged from the Academy for Tertiary Education, founded in 1980, which was the first institution of higher education in Namibia. Act 9/1985 of the South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n administration defined three sections for this academy, a university part, the College of Out-of-School Training (COST) for vocational training
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
programs, and the Technikon Namibia for technical programs related to science and technology.
In 1992 the university section was detached from the foundation of the University of Namibia
University of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
(UNAM). The remaining sections, COST and Technikon, were merged to form the Polytechnic of Namibia per Act of Parliament in 1994.
The Polytechnic consists of two campuses and a number of scattered former residential buildings all located in the Windhoek West
Windhoek West
Windhoek West is a suburb of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Its population is 38,969.. The Polytechnic of Namibia is located in Windhoek-West.Electorally, Windohoek West is located in the Windhoek West constituency.-References:...
suburb close to the city centre
Windhoek Central Business District
Windhoek Central Business District is the inner city area of Windhoek, capital of Namibia. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Windhoek West and Hochland Park in the west, Windhoek-North in the north, Eros, Klein-Windhoek, Luxushügel and Auasblick in the east, and Suiderhof and Southern Industrial...
. The main campus consists of the structures originally erected for the Academy for Tertiary Education. At its center is the Elisabeth house, Windhoek's former obstetric
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
hospital designed by Wilhelm Sander
Wilhelm Sander
Wilhelm Sander was a master architect and contractor working for Sander & Kock known for his work in German South-West Africa, today's Namibia....
in 1907. Elisabeth house is a national monument since 1986 and houses the Senate
Academic Senate
An Academic Senate is a governing body in some universities and colleges, and is typically the supreme academic authority for the institution.-Scotland:...
chambers and the office of the Rector.
The Engineering campus is adjacent to the main campus; construction of this area started in 1995. Originally intended to house only the School of Engineering, this campus has gradually grown and accommodates the library, all auditoria
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, and many of the other faculty venues.
Academic and vocational offerings
As a classic polytechnicInstitute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
the institution offers both higher-level vocational training and academic degrees in technical subjects and the applied science
Applied science
Applied science is the application of scientific knowledge transferred into a physical environment. Examples include testing a theoretical model through the use of formal science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science....
s. In many cases these programs can be combined such that the academic degree can be attempted after a more basic vocational training was successfully passed.
The Polytechnic of Namibia comprises six academic schools and offers undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees in the areas of business and management, engineering, information technology, journalism, hospitality, natural resource management, and medicine. there are 86 undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
and 19 postgraduate
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
degrees offered at the institution.
Competition with the University of Namibia
The Polytechnic of Namibia has been in constant competition with Namibia's only state-owned university, the University of NamibiaUniversity of Namibia
The University of Namibia is the national university of Namibia, located in the Pioneers Park district of Windhoek. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM includes Colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Economics & Management Science Education, Humanities and...
(UNAM). University rankings consistently list both institutions among Africa's Top-50, usually with UNAM a few places ahead of Polytechnic. However, on the Webometrics
Webometrics Ranking of World Universities
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as Ranking Web of World Universities, is ranking system for the world's universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the Web contents and the visibility and impact of these web publications...
list, the Polytechnic of Namibia occupies rank 30 in Africa (2,866 globally), and the University rank 54 (4,507).
On the local level, judging service and contributions to the Namibian economy, Polytechnic of Namibia usually tops all other educational institutions. In 2010 the argument about who delivers the best tertiary education in Namibia entered a new stage when a local study found the Polytechnic again to be far ahead in terms of services delivery. This study has subsequently been rejected by the Students’ Representative Council of UNAM but endorsed by Polytechnic management staff.
Naming controversy
The Polytechnic of Namibia has for a number of years attempted to change its name and its mandate to that of a "Namibia's University of Science and Technology" (NUST). The institution went as far as adopting this name on its web site and in most of its official communication. This, however, was against the law that established the institution. In August 2010 the motion was stopped by cabinetCabinet of Namibia
The Cabinet of Namibia is an appointed body that was established by the Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Namibia. It is mandated to include the following positions:...
, stating upcoming overall changes to the Namibian education sector
Education in Namibia
Education in Namibia is compulsory for 10 years between the ages of 6 and 16. There are approximately 1500 schools in Namibia of which 100 are privately owned...
as the reason to decline the name change.
Notable alumni
- Sam NujomaSam NujomaSamuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
, first president of Namibia, received a DoctorateDoctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
honoris causa in Public Management in 2005 - Harold PupkewitzHarold PupkewitzHarold Pupkewitz is a Namibian entrepreneur and member of the President's Economic Advisory Council. He is the Executive Chairman of Pupkewitz Holdings, a group of builders’ merchants, car sale businesses, and a host of other enterprises, since its foundation in 1946...
, entrepreneur, received a Doctorate honoris causa in Business Management in 2011