By: Stephanus Pombili
The International University of Management (IUM) continues to emerge as the preferred destination for higher education among Grade 11 and 12 learners in the Kavango West Region.
Recent engagements with secondary schools in the region revealed that a growing number of learners aspire to pursue their tertiary education at IUM, citing the university’s reputation for producing employable graduates and its wide range of career-oriented programs.
Teachers, principals, and learners across several schools, including Nkure-Nkuru, Rupara, and Katjinakatji expressed confidence in IUM’s academic structure, discipline, and focus on practical learning. Several learners indicated that they see IUM as an institution that not only offers quality education, but also equips students with entrepreneurial and leadership skills needed for the 21st-century job market.
One key attraction for Kavango West learners is IUM’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. The university continues to avail opportunities for students from rural communities through scholarships for deserving students, flexible admission requirements, and career guidance initiatives. With campuses in regions such as Oshana, Ohangwena, Khomas, Erongo, and Kavango West, IUM provides learners with proximity to home while maintaining international standards of education.
Another driving factor behind the students’ interest is IUM’s proven record of graduate employability. Reports from various regional employability assessments indicate that IUM alumni are rapidly absorbed into both public and private sectors, particularly in teaching, business, and information technology. This track record resonates strongly with Grade 11 and 12 learners who view higher education as a direct pathway to financial independence and professional recognition.
Regional education officers in Kavango West have also acknowledged the positive influence of IUM’s outreach programs. The campus public engagements, career fairs, and high school visits have inspired confidence among learners, many of whom now associate IUM with excellence, integrity, and innovation.
As Namibia prepares for its next academic enrollment cycle, the trend in Kavango West highlights a promising shift in regional educational aspirations. IUM’s continuous growth and presence in rural regions affirms its mission to “educate, nurture, and transform lives” – a mission now embraced by the next generation of Namibian scholars.
In essence, the growing preference for IUM among Kavango West learners is not accidental, it is a reflection of the university’s national reputation as a homegrown institution transforming the educational landscape of Namibia, one region at a time.
