20 years of partnership

The longstanding partnership, which began in 2002 with the development of the NUST Hotel School, is the epitome of a joint and collective effort towards mutually beneficial developmental objectives.

Over the past two decades, NUST and the EU have collaborated on no less than forty-eight projects with a total value of over N$926 million. These projects span the research and cultural spheres through institutional and individual student and staff mobilities / exchanges.



Innovative partnership

Speaking at the commemoration event, Nust vice chancellor, Dr Erold Naomab, said: "Over the years, the fruitful partnership between NUST and the EU has evidently resulted in several innovative research projects of note, totalling more than 40 in number, the biggest with any other international union. These are projects that benefit the campus community as well as the broader Namibian nation, and, in some cases, the African continent at large. It is a sign that NUST has evolved from its days of merely being a space for teaching and technical instruction into a fully-fledged university of international standing."

EU ambassador, Sinikka Antila, also spoke at the commemoration, and said: "The European Union is committed to international cooperation in research and academic mobility. We believe that research creates opportunities for all stakeholders to contribute to deepen and extend the shared body of knowledge in the interest of sustainable development, peace and security.



"In this context, our recent engagement in Namibia, and more specifically the partnership with the Namibia University of Science and Technology, spans across many areas, ranging from human resources development and indigenous languages in culture to renewable energy, biodiversity, and agriculture. Furthermore, a programme on EU-Africa partnership on sustainable raw materials value chain is the recent addition to our collaboration, a result of the EU-Africa Summit."



Deepening friendship

Deputy finance minister, Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, attended the commemoration ceremony, and, in delivering the keynote remarks, said, "The Government of the Republic of Namibia is fully aware of the EU's long and friendly relations with Namibia since the dawn of our independence and truly appreciates that over the course of three decades, Namibia and the EU's relationship continues to go from strength to strength.



"This is demonstrated by their commitment to support various development projects in Namibia, and the region. The good will and friendly relations are further duly demonstrated by the multi-annual indicative programme and, regionally, the economic partnership