This opportunity has come in the form of exchange programmes offered by schools which, in most cases, have agreements with foreign institutions.
These programmes are usually for a semester abroad.
Students usually have to be in their second or third year to meet the criteria, however, there are instances where postgraduate students are offered this opportunity.
During the application process, students need to provide their academic results for the last two years, a CV, and a motivational letter.
They may also need to undergo an interview before selection.
Gabriel Ntelamo (20), a marketing student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), has participated in the Erasmus+ Scholarship Programme and went to the Justus-Lieberg University in Gießen, Germany.
He says a few of the benefits were that he got to learn a new language and got exposed to a new study environment.
He also got to meet new people and build networks, which he hopes will come in handy at a time when he wants to further his studies or begin his career.
Academically, one has to have good grades.
Being involved in extra-murals, such as sport or student representative councils, is an advantage.
Depending on the country in question, you may have to know their language as in Ntemalo’s case.
He had to learn German for the first few months.
The process of applying is quite simple. The first step is to get accepted at the university in the selected country.
This has to be followed by doing well in interviews, and then taking your acceptance letter to the German embassy in Namibia, which will grant the recipient a visa.
The Erasmus+ scholarship funds most, if not all expenses, such as money for rent, food and toiletries.
“It has helped me in terms of broadening my network in Germany. I have a well-connected base in terms of sales and marketing,” Ntelamo says.
He says taking part in student exchange programmes is beneficial to one’s personal growth.
“You are exposed to so many different opportunities. You meet new people, you get to see the world, and you get to experience beautiful things that don’t come to your doorstep every day,” he says.
Jahanika Hengombe, a post-graduate student in heritage conservation and management at the University of Namibia (Unam), studied abroad at the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
This was under the Namibia-Initiative of Baden-Württemberg, which aims to increase communication and interaction between German and Namibian cultural institutions.
“I only spent money on my passport. The ticket and accommodation were paid for, and we got pocket money,” Hengombe says.
Researchers from Unam and Tübingen University tried to find strategies to make the youth of Namibia benefit from any future repatriation of cultural artefacts.
As a result, the concept for an exchange programme with the topic ‘Engaging the Past, Sharing the Future’ emerged.
In exchange, 10 students from the Tübingen University will visit Namibia this month for the summer school exchange.
The DAAD student exchange programme, which was founded in 1925 by Carl Joachim Friedrich, is one of the most popular international exchange programmes for students and researchers in the world.
Read more on Afterbreak Magazine, www.afterbreakmag.com
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
