No problems, just ‘ups and downs’, says IUM chief

CHAIRMAN of the International University of Management (IUM), David Namwandi, has played down suggestions that the institution is in a financial bind.

Namwandi has described complications experienced at the end of last year as mere teething problems, “part and parcel of establishing any new organisation”. “Yes, there are problems.But they are there to be resolved.In any organisation there are ups and downs.It just so happens that the months of November and December were the declining stage,” Namwandi said in an interview with The Namibian.The IUM is the former Institute of Higher Education, founded in 1993 and accorded university status in 2002.The institution’s financial plight was thrust into the spotlight last month when the Windhoek Municipality threatened to cancel the sale of a 44 000-square metre plot IUM bought from the City for its new campus, because of outstanding debt said to be nearly N$800 000.Shortly afterwards, university staff complained through the press about a two-week delay in receiving their November salaries.By last week staff had not yet received their December salaries either.The monthly wage bill for the university’s 55 staff members is about N$200 000.”IUM is just a year old.For anybody to expect wonders from a one-year-old child is a little unfair.Obviously as a private institution we have our problems just like any others: [it’s] just theirs hasn’t been brought to the attention of the media,” said Namwandi.He stressed that the institution did not receive a State subsidy nor did its international partners make financial contributions.The institution offers its 1 400 students a variety of management courses, including one on HIV-AIDS, at its main campus in Windhoek and at two satellite campuses – at Ongwediva and Walvis Bay.Much of its income (N$5 million to N$6 million annually) comes from tuition fees and Namwandi said the IUM experienced similar problems to the country’s other tertiary institutions in collecting these debts.”We have students from poor backgrounds.They are all struggling to make ends meet.It’s not possible to get all the tuition fees,” he said.While unwilling to reveal what lay behind the institution’s cash-flow problems in recent months, Namwandi instead looks to a brighter future.He said new strategies to lift the university out of its financial woes and ensure the best-quality education programmes were implemented were discussed at a board meeting last week.He was reluctant to reveal what these were, but said the institution’s plans to generate more income would soon be publicly announced.The risk of losing the N$1,9 million Doradopark erf has not deterred the institute from plans to begin construction work on its N$120 million campus this year.”It’s our property and we are going to develop it.There is no way we are going to let the property go.2004 is going to be a year of prosperity, success and development for the IUM,” Namwandi told The Namibian.”Yes, there are problems. But they are there to be resolved. In any organisation there are ups and downs. It just so happens that the months of November and December were the declining stage,” Namwandi said in an interview with The Namibian. The IUM is the former Institute of Higher Education, founded in 1993 and accorded university status in 2002. The institution’s financial plight was thrust into the spotlight last month when the Windhoek Municipality threatened to cancel the sale of a 44 000-square metre plot IUM bought from the City for its new campus, because of outstanding debt said to be nearly N$800 000. Shortly afterwards, university staff complained through the press about a two-week delay in receiving their November salaries. By last week staff had not yet received their December salaries either. The monthly wage bill for the university’s 55 staff members is about N$200 000. “IUM is just a year old. For anybody to expect wonders from a one-year-old child is a little unfair. Obviously as a private institution we have our problems just like any others: [it’s] just theirs hasn’t been brought to the attention of the media,” said Namwandi. He stressed that the institution did not receive a State subsidy nor did its international partners make financial contributions. The institution offers its 1 400 students a variety of management courses, including one on HIV-AIDS, at its main campus in Windhoek and at two satellite campuses – at Ongwediva and Walvis Bay. Much of its income (N$5 million to N$6 million annually) comes from tuition fees and Namwandi said the IUM experienced similar problems to the country’s other tertiary institutions in collecting these debts. “We have students from poor backgrounds. They are all struggling to make ends meet. It’s not possible to get all the tuition fees,” he said. While unwilling to reveal what lay behind the institution’s cash-flow problems in recent months, Namwandi instead looks to a brighter future. He said new strategies to lift the university out of its financial woes and ensure the best-quality education programmes were implemented were discussed at a board meeting last week. He was reluctant to reveal what these were, but said the institution’s plans to generate more income would soon be publicly announced. The risk of losing the N$1,9 million Doradopark erf has not deterred the institute from plans to begin construction work on its N$120 million campus this year. “It’s our property and we are going to develop it. There is no way we are going to let the property go. 2004 is going to be a year of prosperity, success and development for the IUM,” Namwandi told The Namibian.