A joint technical committee will oversee a newly established academic partnership between the Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA) and the International University of Management (IUM), following the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding yesterday.
The agreement lays out a structured plan to bolster Namibia’s marine resource management through education, training, and research initiatives.
The joint technical committee will set the technical specifics, track progress, and assess funding requirements for planned activities.
FOA chief executive officer Stanley Ndara and IUM vice chancellor Osmund Mwandemele signed the MoU, marking the first collaboration of its kind between the two institutions. The arrangement will be reviewed every two years or as needed.
The partnership encompasses thirteen thematic areas, including internship placements, curriculum development, data sharing, and co-authored research projects.
All activities align with national development goals and aim to enhance skills within the fisheries sector.
Ndara announced an initial outcome of the MoU: two IUM students will start a six-week internship with FOA in Walvis Bay today.
The interns will gain practical experience in fisheries operations, observer deployment, and scientific data collection.
Ndara added that FOA plans to host four IUM students for the same six-week internship each year, at FOA offices in Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.
"This hands-on training will give them a clear edge when job opportunities arise," he noted, emphasizing the link between academic study and employability.
He also highlighted a broader aim of the partnership.
"This MoU should not be seen as mere goodwill, but as a vital responsibility to help Namibia grow using its own resources and people," he said.
The agreement also opens doors for collaborative research projects, staff exchanges, access to facilities, and community outreach, laying the groundwork for sustained cooperation between FOA and IUM.
