Industry can be a business, organization, Government Ministry, State Owned Enterprise, Non-government Organisation, Faith Based Organization, Community based Organisation, Village or Farm network that partner with the University to provide a Cooperative Work Integrated Education learning opportunity to UNAM students.

UNAM is striving to produce well-grounded graduates by providing opportunities for CWIE in our courses. Some of our programs has mandatory CWIE units that students are expected to complete to enable them to graduate. We can only afford this opportunity through partnership with our stakeholders.

As an industry, you can help UNAM’s current students and graduates by:

1. Creating a graduate attraction program and groom recent graduates for better opportunities in the future
2. Creating an internship/industry attachment/field based learning opportunity.
3. Assigning an actual problem that requires a solution to our students for project based learning.

Opportunity to influence the Curricula and foster relationship with the academic stakeholders

1. Potential Recruitment Pathway: you can always have a pool of potential human resources through your graduate attraction or internship placements programs. A potential intern can become a permanent employee and grow with the organization. Risks associated with hiring unknown candidates and recruitment and training costs are reduced this way
2. Fresh and new ideas from interns

• Partner with us and help us groom the future workforce
• Provide a suitable workspace
• Provide induction and supervision to the intern: Remember this is a student, and he/she will need more guidance and supervision than a new employee.
• Provide feedback to the student and academic contact person when required and as needed  for improvement and quality assurance purposes

Benefits of a Co-operative Education Partnership for employers/Industry

Cooperative education creates a platform for business, industry, government and community organisations to work together with UNAM to develop a well-equipped future workforce.  Become our partner and contribute to this noble cause.

By according our students an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge into practice, will most likely results in the following to you as our partner:

1. Better opportunity to influence the curricula;
2. Reduced recruitment and training costs;
3. Fresh, innovative and new ideas from our students/graduates;
4. Increase your visibility in the community;
5. Foster good relationship with our institutions;
6. Enhanced leadership and professional development to your existing staff through supervising student interns.

Expression of interest form: If you have an opportunity to offer, Click here, download and complete theExpression of interest form and email the form to knghipandulwa@unam.na, jnghipandwa@unam.na

Recruitment procedures

Each academic programme has a suitable period when students can apply for attachments. To establish the recruitment period for the fields you are interested in, please contact the faculty focal staff members on the list by clicking here. Talk to us if you wish to be part of the selection process.

Feedback

We value feedback from you as our partner and stakeholder. This will help us to improve our programs and activities, thereby making it better for the next placement at your institution or company.

Send your feedback directly to knghipandulwa@unam.na

Faculty Focal persons

Click here to see who you can contact on cooperative education/ experiential learning per each faculty/department.

1. Partnerships are established between UNAM and external stakeholders (i.e Government ministries; NGOs, CBOs, Regional council bodies, FBOs, Corporate Organisations, International organisations and Academic institutions)
2. Engagement between Faculty representatives and the stakeholders follows, to ensure the appropriateness of the learning opportunity in relation to the academic learning outcomes requirements;
3. Recruitment and placement process are done in collaboration with the stakeholder;
4. Students commence with their placement under the supervision of the Industry based supervisor;
5. UNAM Faculty coordinators visits students on site to monitor their progress, where appropriate;
6. Students are assessed and evaluated in collaboration with the Industry supervisor, where appropriate;
7. Duration of placement and timing varies depending on the requirements of each academic programme.

Expressions of CWIE opportunities can vary depending on the program, but generally it may take one or more of the following:

1. Work/Industry placements: A direct work placement in an industry or professional workplace to enable students apply theoretical knowledge into real life situations (e.g. clinical practical attachments; legal aid clinic, teaching practice, social work field placement, professional practice, internship)
2. Industry Based or Community Based Service Learning: This approach requires individual students or teams of students to undertake a project based on a real situation, problem, or need by an industry or community organisation. Projects can be performed at UNAM or in a workplace/community/village/farm setting. There are many types of possible projects, some of which are more appropriate to certain disciplines than others. Projects might range from industry or community-based research, product research, product development and design, policy analysis, audit, field work, legal clinics, etc.
3. Project Based Learning/Research Based Learning/Problem Based Leaning: This is an approach that enables students to engage in authentic projects and/or perform tasks linked to real-world problems as opposed to direct presentation of facts and concepts. It often goes hand in hand with service learning and goes beyond merely projects in the sense that students investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex problem, or challenge. It is often interdisciplinary and helps students to develop the 21st-century skills they need to succeed in their future careers, such as critical thinking, investigation, team work/collaboration and creativity. Examples range from case studies aimed at solving real world problems, workshops with communities on basic financial/hygiene/food safety management, assisting a small business enterprise to develop a marketing plan, etc.
4. Virtual / Simulated Workplace Environment: This approach is sometimes necessary for practical, professional or ethical reasons. Learning activities within virtual and simulated work environments allow the development and application of work-related skills and knowledge. It may include laboratories, studios, moot courts, practice firms and virtual businesses that emulate the complexities of a real work situation.
5. International Co-op Exchanges/study abroad: This approach involves placing students for extended periods of time in international based industries. It allows students to gain international related work experience in their fields, greater sense of independence and self-confidence, and to developacademic and future career competencies along with broadening their personal and cultural perspectives.

Benefits of CWIE opportunities for students

Students with CWIE experience are more likely to be competitive for career-level positions and in entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, they are more likely to:

1. Become more confident and work ready
2. Learn about corporate culture and basic work etiquette
3. Gain academic credits and increase their employability chances
4. Broaden their network & expand on their social, cultural and academic horizons

All UNAM academic programs are encouraged to apply and make provision for any suitable form of CWIE in their curriculum.

There is support available to all our UNAM staff members that are directly involved in the implementation of CWIE activities. The unit will assist you with:

1. Skills enhancement in dealing and negotiating with industries;
2. Supervision and management of CWIE processes;
3. Student work readiness workshop/seminars.