“Going to Norway was an incredible experience,” says Meloline Herunga, a student from the School of Education at Khomasdal Campus. Meloline, together with three other students, recently returned from a 5-week school-based practicum in Hamar, Norway, as part of an enriching cultural exchange.
The Multicultural Practicum Groups and Internationalisation of Teacher Education (MUPIT) is an innovative exchange project between the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN) in Hamar, Norway.
Coordinated by Dr. Collin Tjitemisa from Khomasdal Campus and Knut Øystein from INN, the project received funding from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Competence through the Norwegian Partnership Programme for International Teacher Education.
The primary goal of the teaching practicum is to provide students with a practical teaching experience within a classroom setting. They receive guidance and feedback from faculty supervisors, focusing on aspects such as instructional time, course development, assignment grading, and curriculum review and planning.
The four Namibian students, Meloline Herunga, Matias Ntinda, Aaliyah Eichas, and Lucia Hilarius, all echoed that the opportunity profoundly influenced their perspectives on teaching. “Seeing the Norwegian approach firsthand raised my understanding of effective teaching methods,” says Matias.
They observed the high priority given to children’s mental well-being in Norway and noted the practical approach to learning, emphasizing play. Aaliyah reflected, “The focus on mental health and play-based learning in Norway is something that I believe can truly enhance our teaching practices back home.”
During their trip, the students were visited in Norway by three lecturers from the Khomasdal Campus, namely Ms. Jessica Jansen, Ms. Ivy Heyman-van Wyk, and Ms. Narenda Hoepfner.
Two Norwegian students do teaching practicum in Namibia
Two students from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Tonje Iren Hornsletten and Hanne Skokglund, undertook their practicum in Namibia at MH Greeff Primary School in Windhoek, where they teamed up with UNAM students Ithana Beukes and Elmarencia Beukes.
The principal, Mr. George Kandetu, who played a significant role in the orientation of the Norwegian students at Khomasdal Campus, stated, “Integrating international students into our teaching environment offers both challenges and new perspectives, enriching our educational approach.”
Students from both countries described the exchange as invaluable, highlighting its role in their personal growth and reflection on their teaching strategies.
