Applications for 2018 are open until 31 August 2017. Visit www.nust.na for more information.

CENTRE FOR ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (CED)Adobe Certified Associate Training 2017

DATE COSTAdobe Photoshop CS6 Part 1 and 2 07 - 10 August N$4 800 Adobe InDesign CS6 Part 1 and 2 14 - 17 August N$4 800Adobe Illustrator CS6 Part 1 and 2 21- 24 August N$4 800

Time for all courses: 08:00 - 17:00Included in training: Adobe Official Courseware, Certificate of Attendance and refreshments.Enquiries: Francina Kashaka T: +264 61 207 2236, F: +264 61 207 9236, E: fkashaka@nust.na

21 July 2017Official weekly newsletter of NUST

Namibia University of Science and TechnologyNUST_Namibia

@NUST_Namibia NUST BRIEF website: www.nust.na

An award-winning university• Rated Best Higher Education Institution in Namibia (PMR, 2016)

• Rated Most Innovative Institution in Namibia (PMR, 2016)

During the event, Linda Aipinge, the Director of Information and Communication Technology Development in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, emphasised the need for the Ministry to collaborate with academia. Aipinge, who is also a NUST Council member and an alumna of the Institution, said such collaboration will ensure that the best laws and policies are implemented, in line with global trends. Various topics were addressed and these included: Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital World; Application Admission Controls and Big Data Video Delivery; Alternatives to File System for Static Data Storage; Enhancing the Security Features of Automated Teller Machines (ATMS); Enhancing Reading Experiences of Indigenous Stories; and Cybercrimes, Security and Protection for Communities and Children. In light of the ongoing economic challenges being faced in the country, the subject of research funding was discussed at length. Rennie Munyayi, a Projects Co-ordinator at the NUST Projects Services Unit, emphasised that in the wake of an unfavourable economic climate, staff and

students need to pursue various funding streams beyond Namibia’s borders. The Project Services Unit is responsible for facilitating the process of securing funds for research purposes.A panel discussion on “Ethics in Community-University Engagements” highlighted some of the challenges and progress that Namibia is making in ensuring that communities are protected from unethical research practices. Panelists described the responsibilities and concerns from the perspectives of the community, academia, the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the National Research Ethics Board. Dr Anicia Peters, the Dean of the FCI, applauded the researchers for exceeding the Faculty’s set targets and conducting studies that have an impact in the community. Last year, Heike Winschiers-Theophilus, a professor in the Faculty, achieved the singular honour of being adjudged the National Scientist of the Year 2016 and Researcher of the Year 2016 by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST).

Researchers share best practicesMore than 14 papers were presented at this year’s Research Day for the Faculty of Computing and Informatics (FCI). The Faculty’s research areas are currently focussed on indigenous knowledge, big data, smart and secure environments and digital transformation.

Eighty (80) participants from the academia and industry attended a half-day Petroleum Upstream Seminar initiated by the Centre for Oil and Gas (COG), one of the pillars of the Namibia Energy Institute (NEI). Other institutions that formed part of the organising committee included the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR), and the University of Namibia (UNAM). The Seminar was aimed at raising awareness regarding the exploration and production aspects that are related to the petroleum industry. Topics that were addressed include Petroleum License Systems and Obligations for License Holders, and Fundamentals of Onshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The gathering encouraged the participants to seek and consolidate economic opportunities in order to become successful entrepreneurs in the petroleum industry.

Petroleum Upstream SeminarThe three-day workshop, convened by the Sub-Sahara Media Programme of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), featured participants from universities in 10 different African countries and was facilitated by Nixon Kariithi, a renowned business journalist and former media studies professor at the University of Witwatersrand. He said: “Business Journalism needs to be meaningful to those it serves; while it is important to understand global politics and trends, we need to be training young journalists to focus on producing relevant local content that connects with various cultures and shows a human face.”Over the past few years, KAS Media Africa has been working with a number of reputable African journalism schools to meet the challenge of improving business and economics journalism education. The group, representing universities in Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe has been

focused on either updating or introducing new business reporting courses. KAS Media Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each of the universities offering support for the development and introduction of the Business Journalism courses. The workshop covered complex pedagogical and philosophical issues with Kariithi challenging the group to rethink not only the structure and strategy of media coverage on the continent, but also the current relationships with state and national institutions and the private sector and the role of media as national institutions themselves. The workshop inspired participants to collaborate in conducting research in the field of business reporting, either for a book or a special journal edition. The latter could remedy the shortage of published papers and academic resources in this area and offer inspiration for their students to pursue a career in the specialisation.

Rethinking business journalism educationThe Department of Media Technology and Communication, in the Faculty of Human Sciences, recently hosted a group of Journalism academics from across the continent for an intensive curriculum planning workshop. The meeting was centred on the introduction of Business Journalism courses.

Nixon Kariithi: Media Expert and Workshop Facilitator (front row, centre) and Emily Brown, Senior Lecturer: Department of Communication (front row, fourth from left), pictured with other participants at the workshop.

Front row, from left: Dr Zivayi Chiguvare, Director: Namibia Energy Institute and Kondjeni Ntinda, Projects Officer: Namibia Energy Institute (next to Dr Chiguvare), pictured with other delegates at the Seminar.

Linda Aipinge, Director of Information and Communication Technology Development: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (third from left, front row) and Dr Anicia Peters, Dean: Faculty of Computing and Informatics (fourth from left, front row), pictured with the presenters at the Research Day.