UKW and Unam partnership yields first student exchange trip

Two students from the School of Education recently headed to Poland for a five-month student exchange programme at the Kazimierz Wielki University (UKW) in the City of Bydgoszcz. The trip forms part of the Erasmus International Credit Mobility Agreement between the University of Namibia and Uniwersytetu Kazimierza (UKW) that is primarily aimed at exchange programmes for staff and students. Joghbeth Hamauka and Katja Laborn were selected from a pool of 50 students to participate in this exchange programme. Laborn, the third-year student, expressed what a privilege it is to couple the rich knowledge she has acquired at Unam with the modules she is taking at UKW.

As a teacher, she understands that she has “the opportunity to shape children and assist in moulding them to become the best version of themselves”. She is determined to focus on learning about the way children think and the effects of technology and social media on their behaviour. Hamauka, a fourth-year student, remarked that she opted to become a teacher because of the excitement and commitment to learning her primary and high school teachers had.

“Our teachers always encouraged us and taught us in a way that made learning look fun. As a future mathematics and science teacher, I look forward to doing the same”, said Hamuaka. She further indicated that she is most excited about completing the Creative Education Methods.

Both students are confident that the UKW modules like Cyberbullying as an Educational Problem and Risky Behaviours among Youth will prepare them to make a lasting change in their learners’ academic and personal development, and significantly impact their undergraduate research at Unam. The students will return to Namibia in June 2022, after completing a semester at the Kazimierz Wielki University.