What a week! For five wonderful and intensive days the Zentrum für Lehre und Weiterbildung der Unversität Stuttgart (Centre for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning) of the University of Stuttgart and the Academic Development and Support Division (ADS) of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) engaged in workshops, presentations, project brainstorming sessions and lively discussions about the FUTURE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING.
My esteemed colleague Rich Powers from IFE/TIK and I were welcomed and hosted by Dr. Colen Tuaundu and his amazing team of higher education developers. The central topics were clear from the start: (1) Promoting and developing digitally enhanced teaching and learning; (2) Increasing in-person and virtual/remote opportunities for students to achieve crucial job skills meet Namibia’s industry needs and fight unemployment; (3) Strengthening education for Sustainable Development Goals and collaboration between the Global South and North.
The quick-paced week’s outcomes were many! We validated our determination to engage in networking and mutual training opportunities for online learning focused at the student and teaching-staff levels. These include instructional design, quality assurance for online courses, virtual exchanges, and student/staff mobility visits. Additional outcomes recommended collaborative academic research on student success and course development.
A highlight of the week was including dynamic NUST students in the rewarding discussions, among them representatives of Namibia National Students Organization (NANSO) and the Students Representative Council (SRC). Effective and accessible online learning opportunities are needed for inclusive and flexible study programs. However, for students and teachers to embrace online teaching and learning, seminars and lectures must address students’ learning preferences based on removing barriers to learning through universal design (hashtag#udl) and teachers’ concerns about quality online learning. Our role as higher education developers is to conciliate these needs.
We are very thankful for the incredible hospitality NUST and our amazing ADS hosts in Windhoek who organized this networking exchange between our two universities. We return from Namibia energized and inspired by the exciting collaborative projects to come. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our progress.
It couldn’t have been better!
Dr. Thorsten Braun
