Abstract:

Under normal circumstances community and economic development initiatives start with government or chambers of commerce setting goals for economic growth and taking steps to bring economic activities and projects to a particular community. However, the University of Namibia (UNAM) recognized that community economic development should be addressed through empowering community members who must participate in such economic activities.

From 2000 to 2002 UNAM, through its Northern Campus and in collaboration with Regional Councillors of north central Namibia, and two educational institutions in the USA, developed and implemented two educational programmes, namely the New Leaders Initiative Programme and the JobStart Programme. These programmes utilized open learning models and were developed to address issues of leadership development and eradication of unemployment among young people the region. 

This paper highlights the impact that the two programmes had made on the individual participants and their communities, as well as provide information about the contributions that participants are currently making to the socio-economic development of their communities. The paper further presents useful learning outcomes emanating from implementing the programmes of this sort.
 

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Nekongo Nielsen, Haaveshe (2006). Creating pathways to community economic development through open and distance learning: The University of Namibia Northern Campus approach. Paper presented at the Fourth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, 30 October - 3 November 2006