Namibia breaks new ground with first Digital Arts and Animation Department

Academic milestone
  • 1 Day Ago
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) has made history by launching the country’s first Department of Digital Arts and Animation (DAA) – a landmark step towards harnessing creativity as a catalyst for innovation, identity and economic growth.

The launch, held at the High-Tech Transfer Plaza Select in Windhoek last week and themed “Reimagining Storytelling through Digital Innovation,” drew national leaders, industry partners, academics and students.

Officiating at the event, education minister Sanet Steenkamp described the move as more than an academic milestone. “Today is not just the establishment of a new department. It is a powerful message that Namibia is taking the creative economy seriously, and that as a people, we recognise creativity not as a luxury, but as a key driver of innovation, identity and inclusive growth,” she said.

Steenkamp stressed that the initiative directly supports three of the country’s seven national priorities: empowering youth, strengthening education and training, and expanding creative industries. She also linked the department’s mission to the Sixth National Development Plan and the new Namibia Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy (2025–2030), both of which call for integrating creative expression with education and economic opportunity.

NUST Vice-Chancellor Erold Naomab, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Operations Miriam Dikuua, described the launch as a defining moment in the university’s journey.



Creative innovation

“This department is not just about adding new courses. It is about building a long-term ecosystem for creative innovation that aligns with national development goals and positions Namibia as a rising force in the global creative economy,” he said.

Naomab outlined a four-phase rollout plan for the DAA. The first phase, launched at the event, introduces short courses to equip professionals, marginalised communities, women and persons with disabilities with practical digital skills. Future phases will expand into full degree programmes in Digital Arts, Animation, Film and Television; adding specialisations in Gaming and Digital Advertising; and eventually incorporate Music and Performing Arts, transforming the department into a multidisciplinary creative hub.

A planned Creative Manufacturing Hub will serve as a national centre for production, innovation and industry partnerships, ensuring the department’s long-term sustainability and relevance.

Partners in attendance, including MultiChoice Namibia, the Namibia Film Commission and the National Art Gallery, were commended for investing in scholarships and supporting NUST’s vision. Steenkamp urged more corporates to follow their lead, emphasising that investment in creative education is an investment in the workforce of the future. “This is not charity. It is building the talent that your industries themselves will depend on,” she said.

With this launch, NUST strengthens its role as a leader in applied innovation while positioning Namibia as a creative hub for Southern Africa.