NAMIBIA

Reform of higher education funding

The reform of higher education funding aims to improve access to studies by broadening access to financing. The reform implementation project had the overall objectives of (i) revising, designing, and implementing the National Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), (ii) developing a policy on the financing of higher education, and (iii) providing the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) with the steering capacity necessary to implement this policy.

Within the framework of the project, CIDE supported the Ministry of Education in the development of a policy as well as in the structural and operational aspects of the reform. Our firm also supported the National Council in steering higher education funding system reforms.

More specifically, CIDE supported:

• Reviewing policies and regulatory framework and implementing new policy reforming the NSFAF to establish an effective student financial aid system.
• Development of a computer application (LAGMIS) allowing the NSFAF to automate its process of selecting and managing loans and grants for students in higher education.
• Reviewing and supervising the implementation of a funding formula for accredited and private higher education institutions as well as setting up a mechanism for supervising the higher education funding system within the NCHE
• Development of an IT application (HEMIS) allowing the NCHE and universities to automate the process of allocating financial resources to the higher education system

Implementation of higher education funding reform

The project was part of the implementation of the Namibian Higher Education Act aimed at regulating the higher education sector, establishing the National Council for Higher Education, registration of private educational institutions, funding of public education institutions as well as the implementation of surveys within the higher education sector. The project also supported the implementation of the National Law on Financial Aid for Studies which aimed to establish a fund to facilitate access to studies and research for students in higher education.

Creation of a human resource development plan for national economic growth

The overall objective of the project was to develop a national plan for the development of human resources over a period of 15 years and the creation of a labor market information system. Through enterprise surveys, the plan provides strategic directions for the development and utilization oThe project's overall objective was to develop a national plan for the development of human resources over 15 years and the creation of a labor market information system. Through enterprise surveys, the plan provided strategic directions for the development and utilization of Namibia's human resources to achieve full employment in the economy and foster the industrialization of the national economy. Namibia's human resources to achieve full employment in the economy and foster the industrialization of the national economy.