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06 March 2015
Academics share
research plans
for 2015
The importance of Research at the Poly was once again emphasised last week when the School of
Human Sciences held a Research Needs and Capacity Workshop to ensure that the School meets its
target of 25 research publications by the end of the academic year.
Student Prayer Day ever popular
The main auditorium on campus was filled to capacity when the 10th Poly Student
Prayer Day was held last Friday. Pastor Zezito Epifanio of the Logos Family Ministries
in Keetmanshoop, above, was the guest speaker. He addressed the large crowd of
students and staff on the theme: “I know who I am.”
Academics network in Brazil
Two academics from the Poly travelled to Lima, Brazil, recently
where they attended the 20th Conference of the Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC COP20).
The workshop created a platform for academics
from the School to share their research plans
and interests for 2015 and to air any concerns
they may have about conducting research.
The initiative also served as a means to
disseminate information to the academics
about research partnerships and funding
opportunities.
primarily geared towards finding solutions to
local challenges or issues.
A Research Needs Survey was also
completed by the academics during the
workshop and the results will be used to
develop a Research Action Plan for the
School for 2015. During the workshop
the participants were divided into smaller
The Dean of the School, Dr Sarala
research groups, each facilitated by a
Dr Sarala
Krishnamurthy
Krishnamurthy, said that research underlies
PhD-holding staff member who will mentor
the development of new knowledge and
the research groups and provide members
that it provides a greater understanding of the world with the support needed to achieve their respective
around us. She added that the School’s research is research targets for 2015.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual global summit on
climate change where 196 member countries and regional blocks such
as the European Union (EU) assess progress in dealing with climate
change and negotiate on legally binding obligations for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The event consists of
a number of parallel meetings, including those of subsidiary bodies,
temporary working groups and signatories to the Kyoto Protocol. The
COP also includes official and unofficial side events, an exhibition and
a large number of other events aimed at raising awareness around
climate change.
Marina Coetzee, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture
and Spatial Planning, represented the institution as part of the Namibian
delegation to the UNFCCC COP20. She was accompanied by Dr Johan
Coetzee, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Sciences, who was
also invited to be part of the Namibian delegation.
The two academics focused on
the side events and networked
extensively with exhibitors and
a variety of other organisations
present at the COP. The side
events provided an opportunity for
observer organisations to highlight
numerous climate change issues at
UNFCCC conferences and focus
on information dissemination,
capacity building, policy discussions
and legitimising global governance.
“Taking part in the side events
and networking proved very
useful as we gained a lot of
information that we can implement in our training at the Poly.
Our participation also uncovered
a number of opportunities for
research, collaboration, funding
and staff and student exchanges
Dr Johan Coetzee pictured with a Peruvian
model wearing a dress made of recycled with other institutions and organisations,” said Dr Coetzee.
paper.
The Polytechnic of Namibia
PolytechNam
From left: Head of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Salomo Mbai, Poly Rector, Prof Tjama Tjivikua, Kavee
Rijatua, ATCK Vice-Chairperson, and ATCK Acting Chairperson, Steve Hirst, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding
between the Poly and ATCK.
Poly will provide practical training
to prospective farmers
Agriculture, hospitality and tourism will be the main focal points of an agreement that the Poly
and the Agricultural Training Centre Krumhuk (ATCK) signed recently to collaborate in a range of
areas including research and curriculum development and staff exchanges.
Poly Rector, Prof Tjama Tjivikua, and ATCK Acting
Chairperson, Steve Hirst, signed the agreement that
will focus on the activities at the Poly in the fields of
curriculum development of agriculture, hospitality and
tourism. The Poly will also engage in capacity building
and skills development of the training staff of the ATCK.
At the signing of the agreement, Tjivikua pointed to
a need to strengthen local sectors in terms of human
resources and research capacity at different levels.
“This partnership is, therefore, significant to us at
the Poly, but more so to the agriculture and tourism
sub-sectors of the economy, since it gives us all an
opportunity to effectively continue to provide the
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required education and training, skills transfer and
knowledge creation at different levels,” he said.
According to Hirst, the public private partnership
will open a new chapter in the ATCK’s ability to serve
the Namibian public. He expressed the hope that the
relationship between the Poly and the ATCK will be
the first step towards a long line of integration and
cooperation between the two institutions.
Founded in 2008, the ATCK is Namibia’s first
training centre in agricultural production and farm
household management. It engages young people
who are trained to master the challenges of practical
farming and household management.
Polytechnic_Namibia
• 11 & 12 March @ 08:30
• Venue: Engineering Basement