The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) have been ranked among the top 50 universities in Sub-Saharan Africa in the inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa.
The rankings assessed more than 1,000 institutions across the region, with 260 universities meeting the eligibility criteria. A total of 69 universities from 21 countries were ultimately ranked.
UNAM was placed 31st overall, while NUST ranked 46th, making them the only two Namibian institutions represented in the rankings.
Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, said the recognition reflects progress in strengthening Namibia’s higher education system and enhances the credibility of the country’s public universities on the continental stage.
“This recognition affirms the progress being made in strengthening Namibia’s higher-education system and reflects the growing credibility of our public university on the continental stage. Such achievements are important not only for institutional prestige, but for national development, skills formation and Namibia’s contribution to Africa’s knowledge economy,” Steenkamp said.
According to the rankings, UNAM’s strongest performance area was sustainability, where it recorded a score of 36.8. In research and discovery, the university achieved 17.6 citations per paper and one paper per faculty member, alongside an academic reputation score of 37.9.
Under learning experience, UNAM reported a faculty-to-student ratio of 100, while data on staff holding PhD qualifications was not available.
The university also recorded strong performance in global engagement, achieving an international research network score of 59.9, reflecting collaboration with international research partners. Its web impact score stood at 16.2.
In employability, UNAM recorded an employer reputation score of 2, indicating scope for improvement in industry perception.
NUST, ranked 46th in the regional rankings, recorded 61.4 citations per paper and 19.6 papers per faculty member, with an academic reputation score of 8.3.
The institution reported a faculty-to-student ratio of 22 and achieved a sustainability score of 18.9. Its international research network score stood at 21.9, while its web impact score was recorded at 25.
Employer reputation and data on staff holding PhD qualifications were not available in the rankings.
