UNAM makes history with first-ever joint institutional accreditation
The University of Namibia (UNAM) has set a new national benchmark by becoming the first higher education institution in the country to receive Joint Institutional Accreditation from both the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).The milestone, officially announced on 10 November 2025, positions UNAM at the forefront of academic quality assurance in Namibia. The decision follows an intensive evaluation conducted between August and September this year, assessing all 12 campuses, four faculties and 17 schools. The review focused on governance, teaching and learning, research output, infrastructure, staffing, student support systems and overall institutional performance.
This accreditation falls under the integrated national accreditation system, which replaces the previously separate processes undertaken by the NQA and NCHE. The new unified approach reduces duplication, enhances efficiency and strengthens the credibility of Namibia’s higher education sector.
While UNAM’s undergraduate programmes were accredited and registered in 2022 following the introduction of transformed curricula, the latest accreditation extends to all postgraduate qualifications. This includes one-year Bachelor Honours degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s and Doctoral programmes, confirming that every qualification offered by UNAM meets both national and international standards.
UNAM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Kenneth Matengu, welcomed the announcement, calling it a defining moment for the institution. “This achievement underscores UNAM’s firm commitment to quality and relevance, nationally and globally. It signals to our students, partners and the nation at large that our programmes meet the highest standards of excellence,” he said.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Frednard Gideon, commended staff and students for their role in the extensive process, noting that the results would be reflected in the quality of graduates and the university’s growing international appeal.
Meanwhile, online applications for all postgraduate programmes, including the one-year Bachelor Honours degrees, are officially open until 5 December 2025. Interested applicants can apply via the UNAM online portal.