After my presentation at the WA Teaching & Learning Forum. A sweet treat from the #conference gelato cart! Loved exchanging ideas & appreciating Indigenous Australians' history of shaping our #knowledge as we know it.
#WATLF2026 #tertiaryeducation #pedagogy #rinawong #lecturer

Attractive Chinese female presenting in a lecture room, projected screen shows photos of two agar plates with bacteria

Signage for 2026 Western Australia Teaching Learning Forum day 1

Three people smiling, conference delegates, Italian female with red glasses on the left, Chinese lady in the middle,British man with black frames on the right, at a conference function, with people on the background

I'm delighted to present my #medicalscience #pedagogy at the WA Teaching & Learning Forum: Co-designing the Future in #highereducation. Great to reconnect & learn with colleagues over this 2-day conference.
#WATLF2026 #tertiaryeducation #microbiology #network #rinawong #lecturerlife

Join us for a virtual session on Governance for Tertiary Education Providers tailored for governors in Scotland and Wales. Explore the evolving governance landscape and hear from key regulators.

Book your place: bit.ly/46gyp5O

#HigherEducation #Governance #TertiaryEducation

Day 1 of the Universities Australia Solutions Summit! @caullibrarians.bsky.social booth set up and keynote session beginning 🤩

#UASolutionsSummit #HigherEducation #Libraries #TertiaryEducation #FirstNationsKnowledge #Equity #Inclusion #CAUL

#auspol
#bluey
#TertiaryEducation

STEP launches new projects for 2025 - College Development Network Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) has launched a set of new collaborative projects for 2025, bringing together colleges, universities, student associations and sector bodies to tackle s...

🚀 STEP launches new collaborative projects for 2025!

Colleges, universities, student associations & sector bodies are coming together to drive innovation and enhance learner experiences across Scotland’s tertiary sector.

Delivered by CDN & QAA

👉 Learn more: bit.ly/47qbgi8
#STEP #TertiaryEducation

From ‘Oceans Between us’ Ed. Sereana Naepi (Education chapter).
#tertiaryeducation #anticolonialthinking #systemicracism #teachereducation

We must set the rules for AI use in scientific writing and peer review Clear policies, transparent disclosure and shared accountability are essential to protect the integrity of research, says George Chalhoub

We must set the rules for AI use in scientific writing and peer review www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/we-m...

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Research #University #HigherEducation #TertiaryEducation #Ethics #PaperMill #LLM #LargeLanguageModel

£3.4 million project to assess use of AI in doctoral research Aston and Leeds plan to create resources and training tools for students, supervisors and examiners

£3.4 million project to assess use of AI in doctoral research www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ps34-mi...

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Research #University #HigherEducation #TertiaryEducation

Education Minister Soon to Reveal How Free Tertiary Will Work [Namibian] Education minister Sanet Steenkamp will this month outline how free tertiary education would be implemented, including tuition, registration, and support for Namibian students.

#Education #TertiaryEducation #FreeEducation #Namibia #EducationMinister

The educational wealth divide in Europe: Post-secondary enrollment gaps across parental wealth components and countries Parental wealth is a crucial dimension of socioeconomic status (SES) and plays a significant role in the intergenerational transmission of educational…

just published (with a super team A Pietrolucci, @nrmllr.bsky.social, @jaschadraeger.bsky.social )

Association btw != wealth components & post-secondary enrollment (a comparison across many European countries)

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#rc28 #inequality #wealth #TertiaryEducation #ieo

NANSO pushes for student voice in free tertiary education plan   The Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) has met with the national task team on free tertiary education. The organisation called for student representation in the process and for financial...

#Namibia #StudentVoice #FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #NANSO

Flinders ‘comes of age’ as two other Adelaide universities merge www.timeshighereducation.com/news/flinder...

#FlindersUniversity #Australia #SouthAustralia #TertiaryEducation #EDI #HigherEducation #STEM #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #ImpactRankings #Leadership

Dr Rina's Bridget Ogilvie Medal oration at the 2025 Australian Society for Parasitology conference, Melbourne this week.

#DrRina #awardwinning #rinawong #rinafu #TertiaryEducation #secondaryeducation #PrimaryEducation #speaker #earlychildhood

'Free Tertiary Education Possible' [New Era] The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has entered the free education debate, saying the Namibian government is able to finance free tertiary education.

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #Namibia #EducationForAll #IPPR

Free tertiary education under review Free tertiary education under review NBC Online Mon, 06/30/2025 - 18:42

#EducationForAll #FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #HigherEducation #EducationReform

Interview: Guidance, Skills & Passion: Haitula’s Advice for Namibia’s Next Generation   Human resource specialist Tuuda Haitula has urged Namibian students and parents to look beyond the excitement of free tertiary education and instead focus on careful planning, career guidance, and...

#Namibia #Education #CareerGuidance #StudentAdvice #TertiaryEducation

Task Force On Track to Meet Free Tertiary Education Deadline - Ministry [Namibian] The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture says it is on track to meet the deadline to deliver a comprehensive roadmap to Cabinet for the finalisation of a national plan to implement free tertiary education.

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #Namibia #EducationForAll #YouthEmpowerment

Interview: NANSO President Dorthea Nangola Calls for Inclusion of Students in Free Tertiary Education Task Force Dorthea Nangola, President of the National Students Organization (NANSO), has expressed deep disappointment over the exclusion of students from the government’s task force that is crafting the roadmap for free...

#FreeEducation #StudentInclusion #TertiaryEducation #NANSO #EducationForAll

Government forms task force for free tertiary education by 2026    Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts & Culture, Sanet Steenkamp The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts & Culture has established a national task force to develop...

#EducationForAll #FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #TaskForce #YouthEmpowerment

Task force begins work on free tertiary education rollout Niël Terblanché The ministry of education has launched a national task force to lead the rollout of free tertiary education at public institutions. The task force will develop a comprehensive roadmap, expected by August 2025, to guide how the subsidy will be phased in. This move follows President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement during her State of the Nation Address in April.  Nandi-Ndaitwah said that starting with the 2026 academic year, tertiary education will be fully subsidised by the government. At the time, Nandi-Ndaitwah said students will no longer have to pay registration or tuition fees at public universities, technical or vocational institutions. “While this will be a gradual, phased-in approach, your contribution as families and students for now will be towards accommodation and other related costs. We have heard your cries; the fees have fallen,” she told the nation. The task force will design the technical, financial, and policy framework for the phased rollout. The education ministry said consultations with stakeholders will begin in the coming weeks to help shape the final roadmap. Gerard Vries, who chairs the task force, will lead efforts to turn the government’s promise into a working model. Dr Natascha Cheikhyoussef will support the process through research and consultation. The ministry has urged current students at public tertiary institutions to stay focused on their studies in 2025. Applications for 2026 will go ahead as normal, and application fees remain in place for now. The ministry asked students, families, and the public to be patient as the task force carries out its work. It said the promise of free tertiary education will be fulfilled, but it needs careful planning and execution.

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationForAll #SubsidizedEducation #PublicUniversities

Education ministry launches task force to make free tertiary studies a reality by 2026 The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture has launched a task force to develop a roadmap for implementing free tertiary education by 2026. This was announced by executive director Mbuma Haitengela in a statement on Tuesday. He says the announcement follows president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state of the nation declaration in April that as of 2026, tertiary education will be free. Haitengela says the task force was appointed to lead the development of a national implementation roadmap to phase in the introduction of free tertiary education. “In line with the declaration and government’s committment, the task force has been mandated to develop the technical, financial, and policy framework required for implementation,” he says. A comprehensive implementation roadmap is expected to be delivered by August, he says. Consultation with various stakeholders are said to be done in due course. Haitengela further urges students to remain committed to their studies throughout the 2025 academic year. Applications for 2026, including payments as required by public institutions, will continue as normal until further notice, he says. The post Education ministry launches task force to make free tertiary studies a reality by 2026 appeared first on The Namibian.

#Education #FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationForAll #FutureOfEducation

Free Tertiary Education Task Force to Present Roadmap by August Free Tertiary Education Task Force to Present Roadmap by August NBC Online Tue, 06/24/2025 - 19:56

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationForAll #EducationReform #StudentSupport

‘No student will be left out of free tertiary education’ – Ballotti Erasmus Shalihaxwe The deputy minister of education, Dino Ballotti, has assured the public that the planned free tertiary education at state institutions will not disadvantage students enrolled at private institutions. Ballotti made the remarks on Thursday during the first meeting of the Task Force on Free Tertiary Education in Public Institutions, held in Windhoek. He said funding should follow the student and not the institution, as the aim is to support Namibian learners regardless of where they study. “While our focus is on public institutions, it is vital to ensure that students enrolled at private institutions are not unjustly disadvantaged, as they too are our Namibian children. Therefore, very importantly, the funding should follow the student, not the private institution,” said Ballotti. He stressed that making tertiary education free is not just a policy matter but one that requires solid planning, financial discipline, collaboration among stakeholders, and a practical rollout strategy. “Our Minister has therefore emphasised the need for honest, clear, and fearless deliberations within this task force. We are not here merely to endorse an idea; on the contrary, we are tasked with shaping how this idea can work, how it can be phased in responsibly, and how it can be sustained,” he said. The meeting follows President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement earlier this year during her inaugural State of the Nation Address that Namibia will introduce free tertiary education at public institutions beginning in the 2026 academic year.  This means registration and tuition fees at public universities and vocational training centres will be fully covered by the state. Ballotti urged the task force to consider using past models such as the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)’s grant-based system.  He also suggested that the team explore funding certain priority courses at 100% as part of the initial rollout. “I equally wish to clarify that non-tuition costs, including accommodation, meals, transport and study materials, will remain the responsibility of the student, at least for now. But that too must be part of our long-term conversation,” he said. He announced that the Minister had instructed the task force to develop a clear and consistent press statement, as many parents and students are still uncertain about what the new policy covers and how it will be implemented. “We owe them transparency. As such, one of the first outcomes is the drafting of the press statement on how the ministry envisions introducing free tertiary education in public institutions. Let me underline the urgency of the work of the Task Force. The recommendations of this body must be finalised and submitted to Cabinet before the end of August 2025. I therefore urge that we convene weekly sessions with the seriousness and discipline this responsibility demands,” Ballotti said.

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #StudentsFirst #EducationForAll #Namibia

Deputy Minister Ballotti opens inaugural session on free tertiary education Deputy Minister Ballotti opens inaugural session on free tertiary education NBC Online Thu, 06/19/2025 - 12:46

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationForAll #AccessToEducation #YouthEmpowerment

Namibia’s ‘Free’Public Services Namibia is about to enter a bold new era. An era where everything is ‘free’ … except it’s not. It’s the same era we’ve always been in, just with better PR. Didn’t we have bursary grants for “national priority fields of study” and loan bursaries for the rest already? Well, how is it free if it is the same thing? The rebranding team deserves a bonus, though, really. I mean, who knew changing one word could make Namibia sound like Scandinavia? Is it the “ia” at the end of the country’s name? Free tertiary education, ti? A recent announcement has declared, cue the vuvuzelas, that tertiary education will be ‘free’ in Namibia. Yes, comrades. FREE. Gratis. Mahala. Lekker. Sounds revolutionary, until you read the fine print . . . or just remember the last time someone said that. Remember the days of primary and secondary education being declared ‘free’? Parents heard the announcement on NBC and immediately tossed their wallets in the air. They marched to schools smiling, only to be met by what I call the ‘Contribution Committee’. That’s when it got awkward. “Oh no, madam, we don’t charge school fees any more. We just ask for a voluntary contribution of N$1 500 per term. No pressure. But your child can’t get the report card if you don’t pay.” Voluntary my foot. Namibia’s rebranding strategy is really quite innovative: Take something people are already paying for, slap on a new name, and sell it as a blessing. It’s like repackaging tap water in a bottle and calling it ‘Glacier Essence’. The kids call it gaslighting. Our government calls it governance. Now back to tertiary education. Here’s the official line: “Free tertiary education will be aligned to the needs and demands of the country’s key sectors.” Translation: Only students in ‘priority fields’ will get it for ‘free’. So, if you wanted to study rocket science, interpretive dance, or underwater basket-weaving, good luck. But if the education ministry decides the country needs 600 more accountants this year, congratulations. You’ve got a shot at this mysterious ‘freedom’. Then we have too many accountants just like we have too many half-baked nurses. So, what happens to the rest of the students? Well, nothing new. They’ll still apply to the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) or whatever it will now be called under the other roof, still probably need two points, still chase after lost documents from their Grade 11 biology teacher, and will still get told “your loan was approved but go ahead and pay and we will refund you after Jesus comes back”. But hey, the headlines will say ‘Namibia Rolls Out Free Tertiary Education’. Let me take you further down memory lane. The same thing happened with agricultural subsidies. There was an initiative called ‘Free Seed Distribution’. I remember an uncle in the village who went with high hopes. He came back with a five-kilogram bag of maize and a receipt. “Apparently it’s free,” he said. “But I had to pay a ‘processing fee’.” I told him: “Processing fee is how they say ‘not free’ in politics.” Alright, you caught me. I made that last bit up. Namibia is truly the land of euphemisms. We don’t have ‘taxes’, we have ‘development levies’. We don’t have ‘a broken healthcare system’, we have ‘patients encouraged to bring their own mattresses and blankets’. And now, we don’t have ‘Nasfaf’, we have ‘targeted free education’. Let’s call it what it is: means-tested, sector-bound, conditionally accessible, partially deferred, occasionally delivered freedom. Rolls right off George Carling’s tongue. And this is not to say free education isn’t a noble idea, it absolutely is. But so is time travel or going to the sun at night when the oven is off. We’re just not quite there yet. If we said “we’re building towards making higher education free, starting with prioritised sectors”, we could respect the honesty. But we prefer drama: “It is FREE from next year!” Cue applause. Cue budget debates. Cue awkward silence from the universities which were definitely not consulted. But then again, these universities are just like ‘kambashus’, they will pretend not to know what is going on. And what about the kids currently paying off NSFAF loans from 2008? Will they be reimbursed? Will their loans be written off? Or will they just be told “shame, wrong generation”? In Namibia, free doesn’t mean ‘without cost’. It means “you probably won’t be billed directly, unless we change our minds, which we will, and you’ll still pay somehow”. Maybe what we really need is a Ministry of Honest Branding. Its job? To translate all government announcements into the truth. Examples: “Free education” – “Some education may be discounted under certain conditions.” “Universal healthcare” – “Bring your own supplies and hope for the best.” “Youth empowerment” – “Another motivational speech and a workshop with no snacks.” At this rate, don’t be surprised when you see headlines like: ‘Namibia Launches Free Housing Scheme – Families Must Just Bring Their Own Bricks’ Or: ‘Namibia Introduces Free Electricity – Just Pay Connection Fees, Usage Charges, the REDs and Admin Costs’ In conclusion, my dear fellow Namibians, let us celebrate our government’s gift for optimism and optical illusions. Just remember, if it walks like a loan, talks like a loan, and takes 20 years to pay back … it’s not free. The post Namibia’s ‘Free’Public Services appeared first on The Namibian.

#Namibia #FreeEducation #PublicServices #TertiaryEducation #HigherEducation

Rehoboth allocates free land to universities to champion free education The Rehoboth Town Council (RTC) has recently made proposals to various tertiary institutions across the country to provide them with free land at the town. Councillor Jacky Khariseb made the announcement during the fourth ordinary council meeting this week. Khariseb said RTC is looking at ways to bring more tertiary institutions to the town. He said the town is growing so they are looking to bring services closer to the people. “When the bridge on the B1 road, which connects Rehoboth and Windhoek, suffered damage due to heavy rainfall and flooding, resulting in its closure, we noticed that we have to do more for our people. “The closure disrupted travel between the two towns . . . We wanted to bring education closer to our people due to the many challenges they are faced with having to study in Windhoek,” Khariseb said. He said the initiative is aimed at improving tertiary education at the town and to relieve parents and guardians from extra costs such as accommodation and transport. “Accommodation and transport fees are expensive and many people cannot afford it. Students have to travel long distances. With the success of the project our students don’t have to travel to Windhoek anymore for education and parents can save on costs,” Khariseb said. Khariseb said students are sometimes discouraged to successfully complete their tertiary education due to the challenges they face. The councilor said so far they have received positive back feed from International Training College Lingua. He said RTC and Lingua recently held a collaborative meeting to explore opportunities for establishing a satellite campus at Rehoboth and that the discussions focused on research initiatives, skills development, and training programmes aimed at addressing local educational needs and promoting regional growth through academic-industry collaboration. “Lingua is our new family. They were really respective of our proposal. They will hopefully start in the next academic year at Rehoboth. We are bringing Lingua and are pleased that they are optimistic about our programme,” he said. Student Amanda Titus says she often feels discouraged to attend classes because she cannot get money for accommodation, food and transport. “Going to classes in Windhoek five times a week is very expensive. There is also money for coming back home, taxi fares and food needed. It is true that I often have to stay out of classes because there is no money for me to travel to Windhoek,” Titus says. Chris Van Wyk, a former accounting student, says he dropped out of university in Windhoek due to the financial pressure his studies had placed on his family. “We are not a rich family and my studies in Windhoek made things financially more challenging for us at home. Money that was meant for food or rent, I had to take for my education. Knowing this placed stress on me, dropping out was the best option at that time. “I still have great passion for accounting, but things did not work out for me to get my dream job. But that is also ok, because today I am working as clerk,” Van Wyk says. The post Rehoboth allocates free land to universities to champion free education appeared first on The Namibian.

#FreeEducation #Rehoboth #TertiaryEducation #HigherEducation #EducationForAll

Free education will focus on skills before books – Steenkamp Free tertiary education will focus on fields critical to Namibia’s economic growth, addressing a mismatch between graduate output and labour market demands. Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp says Namibia’s education system is vital for its economic development and needs to equip the workforce with the skills needed for a modern, knowledge-based industrial economy. She says free tertiary education will, therefore, be linked to the needs and demands of the country’s key sectors. Steenkamp said this during a courtesy visit to //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick at Keetmanshoop on Tuesday. The purpose of the visit was to engage with schools and visit youth centres and sport facilities, as well as higher education and vocational institutions in the region. “So it is not a given that free education will be open, where we just train without taking note of the key priority needs our country has and needs to focus on,” the minister said. Speaking at an International Workers’ Day event at Oshakati last month, president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah identified sectors such as mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism and fisheries as key economic engines with the potential to unlock employment opportunities for many Namibians. The president said the country is blessed with abundant renewable and non-renewable energy resources, which must be seized through value-addition for the benefit of all people. “However, this potential remains far-fetched if we continue to export raw materials without processing them,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the export of finished products will present compelling opportunities for local entrepreneurs to invest in the manufacturing sector and emerging industries, such as sport and the creative sectors. “While calling for direct foreign investment in our economy, we must have deliberate programmes aimed at strengthening local businesses and entrepreneurs. We have to invest in home-grown initiatives that do not only enhance the value of our resources, but also transform and grow our economy, create wealth, empower our communities, create sustainable jobs and accelerate development,” she said. The education ministry in a media statement released on Tuesday urged tertiary institutions to curb their intake of teacher trainees in fields that are already saturated and rather prioritise those with shortages. Many graduates struggle to find jobs because the education system does not adequately prepare them for entrepreneurship or specialised industries, the statement noted. The ministry acknowledged the mismatch between graduates and job market needs. “We have reached out to our tertiary institutions to reduce their intake of teacher trainees as institutions of higher learning are producing more teachers than the system can accommodate,” the statement reads. The Namibian has reported that the number of unemployed teachers has almost doubled from 8 000 between 2017 and 2023 to 15 000 between 2023 and 2025. Hundreds of them took to the streets countrywide on Tuesday demanding the end of job interviews and for the education ministry to commence a mass recruitment process for teachers. The Namibia Labour Market Outlook Report for 2019 to 2023 by the National Planning Commission says the economy has the highest demand for technical occupations such as bricklayers, plasterers, builders and auto mechanics. The report further says there is remarkably high demand for electrical, electronic, civil and mechanical engineers in the country. “Job openings in the top 40 engineering and technical occupations are projected to be 142 694 between 2018 and 2023 – twice that of white-collar occupations of 54 691. “Labour mobility across sectors of the economy and low supply of the aforementioned professionals massively contributed to the high labour demand, as a result they have the highest job openings,” says the report. The post Free education will focus on skills before books – Steenkamp appeared first on The Namibian.

#Education #FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #SkillsDevelopment #Namibia

Free Tertiary Education or Vote Engineering? The recent announcement by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to make tertiary education free should, in theory, be a cause for celebration. In a country where access to higher education remains a barrier for many young Namibians, this is a seemingly progressive and necessary step. Education is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for social mobility. However, when such promises are made on the eve of an election – and without similar commitments to other vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly – their sincerity must be questioned. It is no secret that Swapo’s dominance has been shaken by the rise of youth-driven political movements. The emergence of new parties with stronger performances in recent elections reflects a shifting political landscape. These parties speak the language of the youth, understand their frustrations, and are becoming legitimate alternatives to the ruling party. Within this context, the pledge of free tertiary education may be less about transformation and more about tactical vote engineering. The timing, paired with growing youth disillusionment, raises the question: Is this a genuine step towards educational equity, or a strategic move to recapture the youth vote? Namibia’s youth, the largest and most influential voting bloc, have long expressed dissatisfaction with government performance on unemployment, housing, and access to education. Championing free tertiary education could be a calculated attempt to regain lost ground – an electoral sweetener rather than a policy built on principle. If Swapo is serious about this commitment, it must present a transparent, costed implementation plan – not vague promises repeated every five years. In contrast, the elderly – many surviving on the old-age grant – remain excluded from this new vision. There has been no meaningful effort to adjust the grant or provide economic relief for senior citizens. It appears that older voters, perceived as a shrinking constituency with limited electoral influence, are being sidelined. This is not only short-sighted; it is a form of demographic discrimination. A government that prioritises certain age groups for political gain undermines the principles of inclusive democracy. If Swapo truly seeks transformation, it must demonstrate that its policies are rooted in justice, not survival. Until then, free tertiary education will remain under scrutiny – not for what it promises, but for what it omits. Namibia’s youth deserves sincerity, not strategic appeasement. – Ernst !Noariseb The post Free Tertiary Education or Vote Engineering? appeared first on The Namibian.

#FreeEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationForAll #SocialMobility #Namibia

H Block and the Atrium at Windermere Campus, Toi Ohomai.

Outside H Block. This is where we’d all congregate to smoke incessantly in 1996. Best social life ever! Toi Ohomai.

Same seats since 1996. Sat here often - right outside our main classroom in H-Block, Windermere Campus, Toi Ohomai.

Actual photo of me in 1996, inside H-Block, Windermere Campus, Toi Ohomai. Age 16/17, National Certificate of Floristry.

in when I did my Floristry course at age 16. 🥹 The memories started all rushing back. I hadn’t been there since. #tertiaryeducation #floristry #polytech #memories