IUM grows by leaps and bounds

By Levi Upula

Namibia’s only private university, the International University of Management, IUM, is growing by leaps and bounds and has this year recorded its largest enrolment since its inception.

Its current student population now stands at 2500, and is no longer in a position to enroll new students due to limited space. The current IUM new campus in Dorado Park, now still under construction, would soon be completed, thus easing the burden of limited space.

IUM Vice Chancellor and Founder Chairman of the Council, Dr David Namwandi told IUM’s Orientation Ceremony last Tuesday that IUM had also introduced new programmes in the past year.

These include Honours Degree in Digital Communications Technology, a Pre-Academic Beginners English Course and an Executive Diploma in Secretarial studies. The interest shown so far indicates that the programmes were relevant and market related.

“We remain committed to our vision of encouraging and developing an African cadre of men and women who can operate at national and international standards in business,” said Dr. Namwandi.

“Here at IUM, we strive to identify trends in development and challenges facing our people in practical terms. We have mounted programmes such as HIV and AIDS and Digital Communications Technology.

“We explore any avenue in an effort to seek solutions to our common enemy, that is poverty and unemployment. We will leave no stone unturned in producing graduates equipped with skills relevant to our situation, Namibia and the region.”

Dr Namwandi said IUM would strive for excellence, producing graduates who could perform at national and international levels. He added that producing graduates who could be creators of wealth and work and those who could think out of the box was the bedrock of its programmes.

“We mould and shape graduates who are prepared to be risk takers, to be trail blazers, not always choosing the trodden path but to be innovators. It is my conviction that the future of the nation and the progress of its people are dependent on the wisdom and courage of those who have control over its destiny.”

IUM recently received loans from the Development Bank of Namibia, DBN, and the First National Bank, FNB, to support the construction of its hi-tech campus at Dorado Park, which, Dr Namwandi said, would go a long way in addressing its current challenge of space.

“In this regard, I would appeal to our students and sponsors to bear with us as we go through the remaining few months before the completion of our campus,” he said. “Let us exercise patience and cooperate with management and lecturers to ensure that the learning process progresses with as few hitches as possible.”

In a move to improve service delivery on its long distance programmes, IUM has outsourced its distance programmes to IOL, which has the structures in place to ensure that distance programmes are offered efficiently and without compromising their quality. IUM has also opened its doors in Gaborone, Botswana.