Windhoek - The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) proudly announces that its Chief Executive Officer Franz Gertze has been elected to serve on the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) Board of Directors,   effective on 12 October 2016. The appointment was confirmed by the President of INQAAHE, Ms. Susanna Karakhanyan during her visit to Namibia recently.

INQAAHE is a world-wide association of over 280 organisations active in the theory and practice of quality assurance in higher education. The central purpose and role of INQAAHE is to promote and advance excellence in higher education through the support of an active international community of quality assurance agencies. In order to achieve this goal, the network focuses on the development of the theory and practice of quality assurance, the exchange and understanding of the policies and actions of its members, and the promotion of quality assurance for the benefit of higher education, institutions, students and society at large.

According to Karakhanyan, Gertze is most deserving to fill this position because of his firm commitment and passion for quality assurance in the higher education sector. “Mr. Gertze, is a person whose passion for and dedication to Quality Assurance in general and that of the Namibian higher education sector, in particular, is hard not to notice. Throughout his membership with INQAAHE he has been able to contribute to the fruitful and constructive dialogue on quality assurance, thus, demonstrating the many values an actual leader could offer for a system enhancement”.

In addition to his academic achievements, Gertze is a seasoned professional in the quality assurance space. He has completed training in Quality Management in Germany and is a registered ISO Assessor with vast experience in Education and Training. Gertze also serves in an advisory capacity to the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), UNESCO and SADC on matters pertaining to qualifications. Locally, Gertze serves on various Boards including the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) and the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM).

Gertze is currently the only African representative on the INQAAHE Board. This presents unique benefits for Namibia and the Southern African region at large. Mostly notably, sharing the challenges facing the local higher education sector at the international level allows Namibia to receive the necessary support required to address these challenges and enhance the sector.  Says Karakhanyan: “By contributing to the activities of the INQAAHE Board, Mr. Gertze is best positioned to keep the Namibian higher education system in line with the most recent international trends in higher education in general  and Quality Assurance in particular, as well as bring in the accumulated expertise to better serve the Southern African higher education system at large”.

It is indeed an honour for the NQA to be represented at the highest level of this prestigious Network while expanding its international footprint.  On his part, Gertze says he is humbled by the opportunity and the confidence of the Board in his abilities to positively contribute to the enhancement of quality assurance in the higher education sector. “This is a feather in the cap of Namibia and the highest acknowledgement of our ability to positively influence and enhance higher education systems in the world”, says Gertze.

About the Namibia Qualifications Authority:

The NQA was established by Act 29 of 1996. The NQA is mandated to exercise and perform the statutory powers, duties and functions which include but are not limited to set up and administer a National Qualifications Framework; accredit persons, institutions and organizations providing education and courses of instruction or training and advise any person, body, institution, organization or interest group on matters pertaining to qualifications and national standards for qualifications.

Issued by:

Mrs Asnath K. Kaperu

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Namibia Qualifications Authority

Enquiries:

Ms Catherine Shipushu

Manager: Marketing and Communications

Tel: +264 61 384 107

Email: Catherine.Shipushu@namqa.org