9. NAMIBIA Mluleki Nkwelo, HII

Transcription

1 9. NAMIBIA Mluleki Nkwelo, HII Introduction The Namibian cabinet approved its first Science and Technology Policy in June The aims of the policy were: To put the Science and Technology programmes in place. To benefit the nation in a way that it can exploit and benefit from the country s natural resources To increase the use of indigenous skills, entrepreneurs, resources & facilities. To widen the scope for both diversification and new earnings. To increase exports and reduce dependence on the sale of unprocessed primary products such as mining, cattle and fishing. To create a paradigm shift in individual and corporate attitude towards productivity and international competitiveness. NAMIBIA Political Facts - Namibia attained its independence on 21 March 1990 and was established as a sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary state - SWAPO is the leading political party Economic Facts - Mining activities account for 20% of the Namibian GDP. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa, the world s fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten - Namibia s fishery industry is a major contributor to the local economy with exports second only to the mining industry - Estimated Growth in GDP for 2005 was 0% Demographic Facts - Estimated population is (2006). - Workforce is (2005 est.) The main science and technology coordinating institutions in Namibia are: National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) Foundation for Research, Science & Technology (FRST)-operators of the Fund for Innovation in Science & Technology (FIST) Council for Research and Industrial Innovation (CRII) Council for Science and Technical Education (CSTE) Council for Vocational and Industrial Training (CVIT) S&T Information Centre (STIC) Areas of specialization in R&D Local Research institutions Table 72 lists the tertiary institutions and centres of R&D and S&T Service in Namibia. Page 139

2 Sarua Study on Science & Technology in SADC Countries Table 72: Tertiary institutions and centres of R&D and S&T service in Namibia Name of Institution Educational Institutions University of Namibia (UNAM) Zero Emission Research Initiatives (ZERI) at UNAM Polytechnic of Namibia (PON) Multidisciplinary & Consultancy Centre at UNAM Centres of R&D and S&T service Desert Ecology and Enviroteach Programs by Desert Educational Research Unit, a unit of DRFN. This programme has trained teachers in environmental related subjects. It has also one of the most well equipped libraries in Southern Africa Solar Energies by the Ministry of Mines and Energy Water Management Research by Namibia Water Company & Ministry Agriculture Research activities by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development Desertification Programs by the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) Sam Njoma Marine & Coastal Research Centre Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology Central Veterinary Laboratory Geological Survey of Namibia Forensic Laboratory National Forestry Research Centre National Botanical Research Institute National Museums and Archives Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) The Fishery sector is one of the highest contributors to the Namibian economy. Approximately 95% of commercial fish species are exported to countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Japan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, United Kingdom and South Africa. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has a solid management system in place, which has led to effective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) and stock rebuilding. (MFMR, 2008) Research output According to the Institute for Scientific Research, Namibia produced a total of 480 papers between the years 2001 and 2007 (Figure 14). This implies an average of 64 papers per year. There is a clear increase in output over the past three years which is worth mentioning. Although the University of Namibia is mainly a teaching university with low staff numbers it still produces the bulk of these papers. Other research institutions which regularly publish a significant number of papers are the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (which collaborates with UCT in Cape Town), the Desert Research Foundation, Geological Survey, which produced 23 and 21 publications respectively, significantly lagging behind UNAM. The list of journals most frequently published in Table 73 gives a good indication of the main fields of expertise in the country: Space science, wildlife research, marine science and environmental science. Page 140 A Baseline Compiled Study by: Johann on Science Mouton and Technology and team and 14 January Higher Education 2008 in the SADC Region

3 Figure 14: Number of ISI papers: Table 73: Number of Publications by top Source Title (4 and more) Source Title Record Count % of 491 Astronomy & Astrophysics % African Journal of Marine Science % South African Journal of Science % South African Journal of Marine Science % Journal of Arid Environments % Discovery and Innovation % Physics and Chemistry of the Earth % South African Journal of Wildlife Research % African Zoology 9 1.8% Ostrich 8 1.6% South African Journal of Geology 8 1.6% Page 141

4 Sarua Study on Science & Technology in SADC Countries Table 74: International collaborations with UNAM by discipline Biology Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israel; Old Dominion University, USA; Institute of Environmental Studies, Zimbabwe; Tropical Resource Ecology Programme, University of Zimbabwe; University of Pretoria Chemistry University of Botswana; University of Cape Town; University of Witwatersrand; South East University. Nanjing, PR China; Ben Gurion University, Israel Computing Centre of Excellence in Distributed Multimedia, Rhodes University; African Virtual University; New Jersey Institute of Technology Engineering University of Witwatersrand; IThemba LABS, Cape Town Geology Czech Geological Survey; Canada, Congo DR, Botswana, Sweden, Turkey. (People from these countries are involved in various projects together with UNAM personnel) Mathematics Physics International Atomic Energy Agency; H.E.S.S Statistics Inter Agency Technical Committee on Population Development; Southern African Migration Project Source: UNAM Faculty of Science Report 2005 Table 75 shows the number of co-authored ISI articles produced between 1994 and 2004 per country Namibia collaborated with. Table 75: International Collaboration as cited by ISI Germany 71 Denmark 6 Sudan 2 Sweden 3 South Africa 75 Italy 2 Tanzania 3 Kenya 4 England 27 Switzerland 3 Scotland 7 Canada 6 USA 38 Cameroon 1 Mozambique 2 Malawi 2 Israel 5 Zambia 4 Zimbabwe 3 Angola 2 France 18 Norway 6 Australia 8 Brazil 2 Source: Institute for Scientific Information Size of the R&D work force Universities R&D workforce The tertiary education system consists of one National University, a Polytechnic, and four Education Colleges. The Faculty of Science at UNAM offers Chemistry, Biology, Computing, Engineering (a two-year course that prepares students for engineering degrees abroad), Geology, Maths, Physics and Statistics. Table 76 summarize UNAM s workforce according to local & gender representation as well as per academic qualification. The very poor female representation across most departments (with the exception of chemistry) is evident. Table 76: Faculty of Science Staffing & Courses at UNAM 2006 Biology Chemistry Computing Eng* Geology Maths Physics Stats Totals N/NN 13/6 18/5 6/5 1/1 0/2 9/2 7/3 6/2 M/F 11/8 13/10 8/3 2/0 2/0 10/1 8/2 4/4 Total Academics PhDs N/NN 6/4 2/5 3/3 1/1 0/2 4/2 2/3 5/2 M/F 8/2 5/2 5/1 2/0 2/0 6/0 4/1 ¾ Source: UNAM Faculty of Science Report N Namibian; NN Non-Namibian; Total number includes academic staff, technicians, laboratory assistants and tutors if any. *Students attend a pre-engineering course, which prepares them for engineering programmes at South African Universities. Page 142 A Baseline Compiled Study by: Johann on Science Mouton and Technology and team and 14 January Higher Education 2008 in the SADC Region

5 Public Sector R&D workforce No information available Trends in,asters and doctoral enrolments UNAM is less developed in natural sciences and as a result there are few technical research programmes. The activities of the Faculty of Science continue to concentrate mainly on the teaching of undergraduate programmes in the fields of Geology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. On the other hand PON5 awarded Bachelors degrees in mechanical engineering for the first time in 2005 and only introduced the Master of Information Technology programme in the same year. Students who are doing Masters or PhD are still very few, Table 77, with only Biology showing some representation at masters level. Table 77: Faculty of Science Postgraduate Training at UNAM Biology Chemistry Computing Engineering Geology Maths Physics Stats MSc (Wits-SA) PhD Source: UNAM Faculty of Science Report 2005 Human Resource Development Strategies Namibia has a shortage of qualified Science and Mathematics teachers. With the assistance of European Union, a Mathematics and Science teachers upgrading programme was started. The University of Namibia has recently implemented a programme called Mathematics and Science Teachers Educational Programme (MASTEP) to upgrade teaching in Mathematics and Sciences at Secondary schools with the new teaching methods. Key R&D Initiatives and Networks Key Initiatives Recent technological development and emerging technologies include the following: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Seizing upon the opportunity offered by ICT advances, the Namibian Parliament, with assistance from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDIIA), designed a website that enables citizens and civil society to track legislation, communicate with Parliamentarians, and engage in chat room dialogues on topics of current interest. After learning many lessons from pilot ICTs in education projects and reviewing local and international experiences, the Namibian MOE worked with partners across the sector to develop the ICT Policy for Education in 2005 and the Implementing Plan in 2006, a comprehensive framework detailing all planned ICT interventions across the education sector. (Namibia MOE: ICTs in Education Implementation Plan Guide) Indigenous Knowledge Research The Faculty of Science at UNAM is involved in: Isolation of insect pathogenic fungi from ticks infesting cattle for use in biological control of ticks and determination of cheap indigenous substrates for mass culture of the fungus. Evaluation of the quality characteristics of some plants and the optimization of conditions for the production of arachidonic acid by one of these plants. Biotechnology Page 143

6 Sarua Study on Science & Technology in SADC Countries The Faculty of Science at UNAM established a GMO Testing, Training and Research Laboratory and is currently in the setting-up phase. Two of its technicians have undergone training at CSIR (SA). Additionally, there is molecular genetic research in progress. The lab is still adapting GMO testing protocols for optimum results under local conditions. (UNAM Faculty of Science Report 2005) Energy As one of its projects, the MRCC s S&T division at UNAM has a programme on Energy Research and Development the aim of which is to develop Solar Engineering Technologies & Products. Their AccuPower project produced the Power Can, which is portable, antitheft, sustainable, accessible to the poor and powered by sunshine; a solar engineering lab at UNAM and the solar energy distribution centre to neighbouring households. Environment The DRFN s EEAN division is involved in the following activities: Ecological Survey and Environmental Profile of Katima Mulilo. Pre-feasibility Study of Proposed Port at Cape Fria Angra Fria Environmental Assessment. Environmental Assessment of Proposed Kudu Gas Power Station and associated Power lines. The United Nations University/UNESCO Zero Emission Research Initiatives (ZERI) Africa Chair at UNAM is involved in the following projects: Sorghum Brewery Project, where brewery waste is used for piggery and mushroom cultivation Fish Farming Biogas Production Seaweed Farming Poultry Utilization of various medicinal products Priority areas The Department of Science, Research and Technology s R&D priorities are the following Animal products Fisheries & marine products Wildlife Agriculture Medicine & cosmetics Mineral resources Housing & construction Engineering & tertiary manufacturing ICT Renewable energy Biotechnology Environment Human sciences and Policy research and indigenous technologies Collaboration through international and regional networks Cooperation with South Africa The information on cooperation of UNAM with SA institutions is contained in Table 22 under the research output section. Bilateral cooperation An agreement on bilateral relations between Namibia and South Africa was signed in March The following areas of interest were identified: minerals research, mining technology, geological mapping techniques, laser technology, metrology, biotechnology, capacity building in ICT, geological survey of the Kalahari basin, use of mineral resources, and HESS & SKA collaboration. Multilateral cooperation The DRFN s WADE project (Floodwater recharge in Alluvial Aquifers in Dryland Environments) is being used in selected ephemeral rivers in Spain, Israel, South Africa and Namibia. The Goabeb Training and Research Centre of the DRFN is the Southern African Development Community (SADC) centre of excellence for training on drylands issues (DRFN Annual Report, ). Other cooperation/network membership Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio) is one of the four regional networks in Africa. It has been established with the regional Hub being hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the Republic of South Africa. The network covers 12 countries in the subregion which are: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Seychelles, Republic of South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The region has identified the following areas of intervention; biosciences research and development: plant biotechnology, livestock production, human health, anthropogenic activities Page 144 A Baseline Compiled Study by: Johann on Science Mouton and Technology and team and 14 January Higher Education 2008 in the SADC Region

7 on the freshwater ecosystems, mushroom production, indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), and enhancement of capabilities of the gene banking facilities in Southern Africa. (CREST & High Impact Innovation, 2007). Facts and Figures on brain drain No information available on brain drain International and foreign funding of S&T R&D work at UNAM has limited financial support from international donors (Table 78). The available information does not provide figures of donor funds, and this makes it difficult to identify the major role players in this respect. (UNAM Faculty of Science Report 2005) Table 78: International donor funding at UNAM USAID AFORNET AWF RAEIN- Africa SANTED ITHEMBA LABS UNESCO TREP CGS Biology ---- US$ Chemistry Computing Engineering Geology Mathematics Physics Statistics -- Indicates support where no actual value of the donation is provided. Page 145