Renthia Kaimbi
A joint technical committee will guide a new academic partnership between the Fisheries Observer Agency (FOA) and the International University of Management (IUM), following the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding yesterday.
The agreement sets out a structured plan to strengthen the country’s marine resource management through education, training, and research.
The joint technical committee will define technical details, monitor progress, and determine funding needs for planned activities.
FOA chief executive officer Stanley Ndara signed the MoU alongside IUM vice chancellor Osmund Mwandemele.
Ndara said the agreement is the first between the two institutions and will be reviewed every two years or whenever needed.
The partnership covers thirteen thematic areas. These include internship placements, curriculum development, data sharing, and co-authored research.
All activities support national development goals and aim to improve skills within the fisheries sector.
Ndara announced the first outcome of the MoU, saying that two IUM students will begin a six-week internship with FOA in Walvis Bay today.
He said the interns will receive hands-on experience in fisheries operations, observer deployment, and scientific data collection.
He added that FOA plans to take on four IUM students each year for the same internship period at its offices in Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.
“The practical training will undoubtedly give them a competitive edge when job openings arise,” he said, pointing to a clear link between academic learning and work readiness.
He stressed that the partnership carries a broader purpose.
“This MoU should not be viewed as an act of goodwill, but rather as a salient responsibility assigned to us to ensure that we help Namibia grow using its own resources and its own people,” he said.
The agreement also provides opportunities for collaborative research projects, personnel exchanges, facility access and community outreach, laying the groundwork for long-term cooperation between FOA and IUM.
