The Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) has appointed Dr. Ngepathimo Kadhila as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2025.
He joins NAMCOL from the University of Namibia (UNAM), where he served as Quality Assurance Director—a key role in the development, registration, accreditation, and implementation of blended and fully online learning programmes at the institution.
Dr. Kadhila succeeds Dr. Heroldt Vekaama Murangi, who retired in August 2023.
Bringing over 20 years of experience in higher education quality assurance, Dr. Kadhila has a strong background in open, distance, and e-learning (ODeL). His career includes nine years as a high school teacher before transitioning into higher education leadership.
His expertise extends to advising senior university leadership on quality assurance, leading curriculum development for both traditional and online education, and contributing to regional ODeL standards as part of the SADC Community of Practice.
He also co-authored the Guidelines for Quality Assurance of Blended Learning and eLearning in the SADC Region.
Dr. Kadhila’s professional training includes an International Quality Review Reviewer certification from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Internal Quality Assurance (TrainIQA) training through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
He has also completed a Higher Education Leadership Fellowship from Cardiff University under the Phoenix Project, as well as a Business Management and Leadership certification from Stellenbosch University Business School. Additionally, he holds a Doctoral Supervision certification from Stellenbosch University’s Africa Centre for Scholarship.
Academically, Dr. Kadhila earned a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of the Free State in South Africa.
He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from Rhodes University and both a Bachelor and Master of Education degree from the University of Namibia.
His research and publications focus on academic development, curriculum design, teaching and learning, assessment practices, and quality assurance in higher education.
