Unam records highest number of graduates in history

By: Ketemba Tjipepa

The University of Namibia (Unam) Vice Chancellor, Kenneth Matengu has indicated that the institution recorded the highest number of graduates this year since its establishment 30 years ago. Similarly , the university capped its first four graduates who received their specialisation qualifications in the field of anaesthesiology.

A total number of 5833 students were capped during the university's spring graduation ceremony that took place today at the main campus in Windhoek. Matengu expressed appreciation to the students and the staff for reaching this significant milestone. However, the vice-chancellor requested assistance because the male students are lagging behind after the university recorded 70 percent of women graduating.

"This is the highest number of graduates in the history of the University of Namibia. In this regard, we must express our sincere gratitude and express a word of thanks to the commitment of our graduates, professional staff because they did this under difficult circumstances of Covid-19," says Matengu.

In addition, Unam Chancellor Nangolo Mbumba, challenged the graduates from the different faculties of science to seize the opportunities presented by the 4th industrial revolution and assist the government in the development of the emerging economic industries of oil exploration and green hydrogen.

"The fourth industrial revolutions is changing how we live,work and communicate.We therefore challenge the graduates in the science, technology, engineering and ICT fields to embrace the opportunities offered by the 4th industrial revolution and assist our government in the development of the emerging economic areas of oil exploration and green hydrogen," the Unam Chancellor said.

Nangolo added that since the establishment of the School of Medicine in 2010, the university focused on training qualified general practitioners and more than 500 graduates have been deployed in both private and public facilities in various parts of the country.

In addition, the Unam vice-chancellor said the university has grown tremendously over the years, with only 3639 students registered in 1992 to over 28 000 students enrolled this year.