Namibia’s leading private provider of open, distance and online higher education, the Institute of Open Learning (IOL) marked a milestone recently by conferring qualification on 952 graduates.
The Institute said this furthers their mission to bridge the country’s education gap and this year’s ceremony honoured recipients of degrees, diplomas and certificates. “Maintaining a cherished tradition, our Registrar Pieter Janse van Vuuren personally capped each graduate, which emphasised the significance of their academic achievements within the broader educational community,” the Institute stated.
IOL Chief Executive, Ilana Calitz said this is a celebration of achievement, hard work and resilience. “This is not just a conclusion of your academic journey but the beginning of a new chapter as esteemed members of the IOL alumni. You are now representatives of IOL, and the success you achieve will reflect back on us, inspiring future students,” she added.
Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, Calitz reminded graduates of their potential: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”. She encouraged the graduates to embrace curiosity, perseverance and courage as they shape their communities and nation.
Architect of Teacher Qualifications at IOL, Dr. Frikkie Engelbrecht said education is not about marks, it is about developing people holistically and teachers are ‘people builders’ who guide learners in their intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth. “Explain to learners how fantastic the capacity of their brains is. Their school marks only say they did not study enough or studied incorrectly, they say nothing about the horsepower of their brain,” he added.
Deputy Chief Executive, Anna Imalwa said “we urge you to stay in touch with the Institute by becoming active members of the alumni network. You are now IOL ambassadors and it will be our honour to welcome you,” she added.
Since its inception, IOL has graduated more than 16,000 students and they maintain their commitment to providing accessible, affordable and high-quality education saying IOL remains dedicated to its mission of empowering Namibians through transformative education.
