Polytechnic of Namibia

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Polytechnic of Namibia
135x148
Logo of the Polytechnic of Namibia
Motto in English
 Technology and development
Established 1994
Rector Prof. Dr. Tjama Tjivikua
Academic staff
 ≥300[1]
Administrative staff
 670 (including faculty)[2]
Students 11,500[3]
Location Windhoek, Namibia
Colours Yellow and Blue
Sports Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, Basketball
Nickname Poly, Polytech
Website polytechnic.edu.na

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.

History[edit]

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 African 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.[4]

When in 1992 the University of Namibia (UNAM) was founded, the Academy lost its university section. The remaining sections, COST and Technikon, were merged to form the Polytechnic of Namibia per Act of Parliament in 1994.[4]

A red-roofed yellow building in bright sunlight, built in German colonial style. Over the entrance is a red cross and the inscription "Elisabeth Haus"
Elisabeth house on Polytechnic's main campus

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.[4] 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.[5]

Science and Technology building on the Engineering campus

The Engineering campus is adjacent to the main campus; construction of this area started in 1995.[2] 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, including, most recently, a new building for the School of Health Sciences. A further building, to house new lecture venues and the Department of Architecture, is currently being constructed on this campus.

Academic and vocational offerings[edit]

Main campus of the Polytechnic of Namibia

As a classic polytechnic the institution offers both higher-level vocational training and academic degrees in technical subjects and the applied sciences. 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.[6]

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. As of 2010 there are 86 undergraduate and 19 postgraduate degrees offered at the institution.[4]

A sign at the Polytechnic with logo in 2008.

Competition with the University of Namibia[edit]

The Polytechnic of Namibia has been in constant competition with Namibia's only state-owned university, the University of Namibia (UNAM).[7] University rankings consistently list both institutions among Africa's Top-50, until 2009 usually with UNAM a few places ahead of Polytechnic.[8] In recent years Polytechnic is ahead of UNAM; the Webometrics 2013 lists the Polytechnic of Namibia on rank 28 in Africa (2,284 globally), and the University on rank 48 (3,160).[9]

On the local level, judging service and contributions to the Namibian economy, Polytechnic of Namibia usually tops all other educational institutions.[10][11] 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[12] but endorsed by Polytechnic management staff.[11]

Naming controversy[edit]

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.[7] This, however, was against the law that established the institution. In August 2010 the motion was stopped by cabinet, stating upcoming overall changes to the Namibian education sector as the reason to decline the name change.[13]

More than two years later in December 2012 cabinet instructed the Ministry of Education to grant the PoN university status and a change to the desired name. Part of the transition process will be the phasing out of one-year Diploma and one-semester Certificate courses within five years.[14]

Events[edit]

The institution conducts a cultural festival every year at the onset of spring. Activities include an International Cuisine Day where staff and students prepare and sell traditional food, a flea market, and the Miss and Mr Polytechnic competition.[15]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Old Mutual donates N$300 000 to the Polytechnic Library". The Namibian. 23 August 2010. 
  2. ^ a b "Laureate Tjama Tjivikua". Junior Achievement Namibia. Retrieved 24 August 2010. 
  3. ^ "Tjivikua nicht verärgert" [Tjivikua not cross]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 24 August 2010. 
  4. ^ a b c d Polytechnic of Namibia Historical Perspective
  5. ^ "Neues Leben im "Storchennest"" [New life in the "Storch's nest"]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 17 April 2007. 
  6. ^ "Prospectus for Undergraduate Studies" (pdf). Polytechnic of Namibia. 2010. 
  7. ^ a b Smith, Jana–Mari (23 August 2010). "Cabinet to decide on Polytechnic name". The Namibian. 
  8. ^ Kiremire, Enos (21 August 2009). "African University Ranking Sub-Saharan Africa: (July 2009: University of Namibia)". New Era. 
  9. ^ "Africa Ranking". Webometrics.info. Retrieved 25 February 2013. 
  10. ^ Katswara, Tonderai (21 January 2005). "Excellence and hard work honoured at PMR awards". The Namibian. 
  11. ^ a b Ekongo, John (9 June 2010). "Poly not at war with Unam". New Era. 
  12. ^ Shipanga, Selma (23 August 2010). "Unam slams Polytech over survey findings". The Namibian. 
  13. ^ Philander, Frederick (23 August 2010). "Poly stays a Poly". New Era. 
  14. ^ Shipanga, Selma (21 January 2013). "Polytechnic prepares for transition to university". The Namibian. 
  15. ^ "Accommodation, Sport & Culture". Polytechnic of Namibia. Retrieved 3 July 2012. 
  16. ^ Philander, Frederick (11 April 2005). "Namibia: Do We Have What It Takes?". New Era. 
  17. ^ "Hundreds graduate from Poly". New Era. 18 April 2011. 

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polytechnic of Namibia.

Coordinates: 22°36′40″S 17°03′27″E / 22.61111°S 17.05750°E / -22.61111; 17.05750

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