THE University of Namibia announced yesterday that it will bestow a doctorate of public administration honoris causa on vice president and the university’s chancellor, Nangolo Mbumba.
Director of communications at the university Edwin Tjiramba said in a statement that Mbumba will be honoured with the degree during his inauguration as the chancellor tomorrow on the recommendation of a submission by the executive of the senate.
“Council earlier chose to appoint the vice president as its chancellor, given the role he played in education during the period before Namibia became independent, and having served as minister of education after independence, where he presided over the universityas line minister,” explained Tjiramba.
He added that it was deemed fit that the university confers the honorary degree, which is the highest award that the university confers. “As an individual, the Unam chancellor-elect has distinguished himself through extraordinary and outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of the university, and the Namibian nation at large. The title is also befitting, given the statutory provision in the Unam Act, which states “The chancellor shall have the right to confer or grant degrees, diplomas, certificates and other awards and distinctions of the university, and perform such other functions as may be prescribed,” he said.
Tjiramba noted that the council also resolved that the university will award an honorary doctorate to future elected chancellors, who are not doctorate degree holders.
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa, as it is commonly known, is an academic degree for which the usual university requirement such as matriculation, residence, a dissertation, and the passing of comprehensive examinations are waived.
