Two Unam lecturers tipped for Nust top job

THE Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) council has reportedly shortlisted two lecturers from the University of Namibia (Unam) for the position of vice chancellor at Nust.

According to a source at Nust, the council shortlisted Unam’s pro-vice chancellor for academic affairs, associate professor Frednard Gideon, and Unam southern campus director Erold Noamab.

The successful candidate would replace former vice chancellor Tjama Tjivikua, who retired in March last year. Tjivikua had been at the helm of the institution since its formation as the Polytechnic of Namibia in 1995.

Contacted for comment, Nust council chairperson Florette Nakusera referred The Namibian to the Nust communications department over the issue.

Nust spokesperson Kuda Brandt stated: “On behalf of Dr Andrew Niikondo, Nust acting vice chancellor, kindly note that council (the university’s highest decision making body) is going to sit and discuss the process. Therefore, at this point, we are unable to express ourselves on the matter.”

This is the second time the two lecturers have been shortlisted for the position. In March 2019, they were among five shortlisted candidates for the post, but they allegedly did not do well in the interviews.

Leaked council documents from Nust show the institution spent N$70 000 on the vice chancellor selection process.

At a meeting on Thursday last week, the joint search committee of the Nust council and senate identified three Namibian companies to conduct psychometric assessments and background checks of shortlisted candidates through the direct procurement method of the university.

Documents further show that psychometric assessments and background checks on Gideon and Noamab will be conducted by executive recruitment entities Capacity Trust Namibia, Vision Consulting or Elite Employment.

The joint search committee further nominated two South African academics to be part of the panel. They are Thandwa Mthembu, the vice chancellor of Durban University of Technology, and Gordan Zide, the former vice chancellor of Vaal University of Technology.

“These nominations were based on the credibility and reputation of the universities and following the international relations established with these universities,” Nust documents reveal.

Gideon did not answer several calls to his mobile phone yesterday while text messages sent to him were ignored.

At the time of going to print, the date for the interviews had not been set. However, The Namibian understands the council was to sit last night to endorse the date proposed by the council’s select committee.

Naomab holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Nottingham. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and molecular and physiological biology at Unam and followed this up with a master’s degree in science at the same university. He then did a master’s degree in strategic resource management at the University of Nottingham before completing his PhD.

Naomab previously served as the head of Unam’s chemistry and biochemistry department.

Gideon holds a PhD in applied mathematics (banking and finance, risk management and Basel II) from North-West University, and a master’s degree in science and mathematics from Rhodes University. He completed a bachelor of science degree at Unam.

Gideon served as the dean of the faculty of science at Unam and was the first Namibian to occupy that position.

The other three candidates shortlisted last year are Said Irandoust from Sweden, Otlogetswe Totolo from Botswana and Abraham Ogwu from Nigeria.

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