Description

Regional and Rural Development is the study of regions of predominantly rural and agriculturally based economies and the processes of regional change. This programme aims at providing training opportunities for students who are interested in and motivated to work as development generalists, especially in rural areas of the country. It will provide skilful, competent and motivated graduates for the increasing and numerous challenging tasks of rural development in the country. The programme will 2 equip students with tools, methods and a theoretical grounding in the theories of regional analysis as well as concepts and approaches of integrated development promotion and management. 
Applied concepts and techniques are provided by a wide range of scientific disciplines such as economics, physical and social geography, sociology, agriculture and biology. Graduates will be given a theoretical and applied knowledge of regional and rural development issues, public administration and management tasks as well as natural resource protection and management. Due to the highly cross sectoral nature of the study programme, the graduates will be true “generalists”.
 

Admission Requirements 

Candidates may be admitted to this programme, if they meet the General Admission Requirements of the Namibia University of 
Science and Technology and comply with the additional requirements below: 

 A  minimum  of  30  points  on  the  NUST  Admission  Point  Score,  using  a  combination  of  NSSCA/NSSCH  and/or  NSSCO, 
provided that no symbol lower than a “D” on NSSCO will be accepted for English and Mathematics
 
At the discretion of the Department, a more in‐depth selection process could be followed which may include either a test or an
interview. 

Mature age candidates will be considered provided they meet the requirements and pass the mature age entrance examinations 
of the Namibia University of Science and Technology. 

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor degree provides knowledge and skills which will allow students, after the successful completion of this programme, to work as: development promotion generalists at Regional Council level; development planners in different ministries at national level, e.g. Ministry of Lands and Resettlement (MLR), the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (MRLGH&RD); at local level for larger Municipalities or traditional authorities, etc.;  rural development specialists for NGOs; planners in consulting and planning companies of the private sector.

With a diploma in Regional and Rural Development graduates will mainly find employment as development technicians at local and regional government level. They will also be able to work for Non-Government Organizations involved in rural development tasks.