New Partnership to Strengthen the University of Namibia

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Program (CDC GAP) Namibia has awarded $500,000 to I-TECH Namibia, representing the first year of a 5-year award to strengthen the master of public health degree program at the University of Namibia (UNAM). UNAM, as the only national public university in Namibia, is committed to its 10,000 strong student population and mandate to support a flourishing academic and research environment and home to future leaders. The grant will support a new partnership between the University of Washington (UW) and UNAM, with the objective of increasing public health faculty development and retention student recruitment and retention; and a broader array of curriculum and course pathways, including courses and certificate programs on nutrition, strategic information, leadership and management, and health policy.

Visiting this week to meet with I-TECH leadership and UW deans, chairs, and faculty are Dr. Lazarus Hangula, Vice Chancellor (equivalent to our university president); Dr. Osmund Damian Mwandemele, Pro-vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Research; Dr. Lischen Haoses-Gorases, Dean of Faculty, Medical and Health Sciences; and Dr. Marieta Van der Vyver, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

The other partner in the collaboration is the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. This is an exciting initiative that builds upon a longstanding and successful partnership between I-TECH Namibia and UNAM.