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The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted Professor Kenneth Matengu, Vice Chancellor of University of Namibia (UNAM), on 1St October 2019. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF, and the Professor discussed the warm and cordial relationship that India and Namibia share. They examined that India’s commitment towards Namibia in human resource development and capacity building through Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) and other bilateral programme has been a solid pillar of support which has also been appreciated by the Namibians.

The Professor further discussed his interest in indigenous knowledge and specialty in innovation diffusion and technology transfer and the knowledge-based economy as well as community resources management, poverty and the social aspects of HIV and AIDS. He also discussed the prospect of working with the institution on these lines. New pillars of cooperation between India and Namibia along with the possible areas where both the institution can collaborate were discussed are as follows:-

• Student exchange progmrame for capacity building which would also include the exchange of researchers from think-tanks to understand the relation and deepen the engagement between the two nations;
• Education and training aspects which would focus on the curricula development for postgraduate programmes as well as staff with specialised software technology as learning solutions and health information; and
• Assistance in creating solutions in language translation by working on joint research projects.

Dr. Arvind Gupta highlighted that every year Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) provides scholarships which is availed by lot of Namibian students. Today, we can find many of them currently pursuing studies in India. Several cultural troops are also being send to Namibia to keep the relationship intact, to which Professor Matengu thanked the ICCR for promoting cultural and educational ties between India and Namibia.

Lastly, both discussed on ways to contribute in further strengthening, deepening and diversifying India-Namibia relations. The Namibian and Indian universities along with the think-tanks are still not connected well with each other, hence there is a need for holistic, structured and sustained interaction among scholars in order to take the relationship forward.