Establishment of the Academic Advisory Board (AAB)

A key recommendation of the NCHE, following the institutional audit, was the establishment of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) to provide IOL with expert oversight on academic matters, specifically in guiding the approval of qualifications and ensuring strong quality assurance. IOL has implemented this recommendation, forming the AAB as a strategic advisory body to support its academic mission in alignment with national and international higher education standards.

The AAB will operate in a consultative capacity, offering strategic guidance and support to IOL’s leadership. All recommendations provided by the AAB will be submitted to the IOL Board for final approval, ensuring alignment with the institution’s governance structure. In addition to providing strategic insights, the AAB will uphold quality assurance through the development and monitoring of academic policies and procedures, helping to maintain IOL’s exacting standards across all qualifications conferred.

“IOL is thrilled to introduce the Academic Advisory Board, a body that will strengthen our commitment to quality education and support our mission to deliver accessible, high-calibre learning,” said Ms Calitz. “The expertise of the AAB is invaluable in guiding our institution, maintaining academic standards, and ensuring our offerings align with global best practices.”

The AAB’s focus includes developing quality assurance frameworks for program accreditation, institutional audits, and quality promotion, as well as tracking trends in higher education to ensure IOL’s continuous improvement. The AAB will also provide guidance for the regular assessment and evaluation of academic performance, supporting IOL’s strategic goals.

Meet the Academic Advisory Board Members

IOL is honoured to introduce the distinguished members of the Academic Advisory Board, each bringing extensive expertise and a dedication to educational excellence:

Dr Jacqueline Bock

Dr Jacqueline Bock holds a PhD with a specialisation in Educational Technology from UNICAF University. With 23 years of teaching experience in high schools across Rehoboth, she transitioned to higher education in 2014, taking on roles as an instructional designer and professional development trainer. Dr. Bock brings over 32 years of expertise in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the educational sector, focusing on training, teaching, and assessment. Her skill set includes curriculum development, learning management, and the strategic integration of ICT tools, with extensive knowledge of Learning Management Systems (LMS). In addition to her PhD, Dr. Bock holds an MBA from the Management College of South Africa (MANCOSA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Science (MANCOSA), a B.Ed. in Educational Psychology (Potchefstroom University), and a Higher Education Diploma (Secondary) from the University of Namibia. Currently, she is pursuing a second master’s degree in Higher Education from Botto University to further strengthen her expertise as a trainer and professional developer in higher education. Driven by her passion for research, Dr. Bock collaborates across borders with internationally recognised scholars, reinforcing her impact within the higher education landscape.

Dr Mistilde Jonas-Iita
Dr Mistilde Jonas-Iita is an academic at the University of Namibia’s Department of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, with extensive experience in teaching, curriculum planning and development, instructional design, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of educational programmes as well as educational reform and Policy development.   Dr Jonas-Iita brings over 26 years of experience in both high schools and tertiary education, focusing on distance learning and adult education. She has worked extensively with first- and third-year students in distance learning programmes, including degrees and diplomas in Adult Education, Community Development, Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning. Additionally, she possesses extensive experience in translating educational contents from English to Oshikwanyama and Oshindonga, including HIV/AIDS manuals for adult learners. Her areas of expertise span planning and strategic management, instructional design for blended learning, and the development, evaluation, and monitoring of educational programmes and materials. Dr Jonas-Iita is well vested in Indigenous knowledge System.

Dr Gisela Siririka

An accomplished educator and curriculum specialist, Dr Gisela Siririka holds a PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Studies. She has contributed significantly to curriculum development, Physical Education, and Gender Education, with a strong focus on safeguarding and youth advocacy. With a distinguished background in the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, Dr Siririka’s skill set includes certifications in Media Development, Office 365, Google Drive, Open Educational Resources (OER), PE4Life, Multi-grade Teaching, and the UNESCO CFIT Project. She is adept with digital tools like Jamboard, Storyboard, and Moodle, using them to enhance learning and collaboration. Additionally, Dr Siririka developed a multi-grade intervention programme for teachers, featured in her PhD thesis, which explores the perceptions of multi-grade teaching in Namibia’s Kunene Region. Her work on multi-grade teaching has received international attention, with presentations at conferences in countries such as South Africa, Kenya, France, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Notwithstanding her academic expertise, Dr Siririka actively engages in safeguarding initiatives within Physical Education and sports, collaborating with stakeholders to establish policies that create safe, inclusive learning environments. Her understanding of safeguarding legislation and best practices has been instrumental in promoting youth and children’s rights through her involvement in the National Gender Equality and Equity Policy 2023-2030 and the National Gender Plan of Action.

Ms Teopolina Ndeyamo H. Uutsi

With a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Namibia, Ms Teopolina Uutsi has over a decade of experience in ICT within higher education. She currently manages data systems at the NCHE, contributing to policy development and higher educational access and improvement through policy, planning and research that support the advancement of higher education. Her expertise includes data management, data analysis, system development, and ICT policy, with a focus on improving data systems to enhance institutional effectiveness and support informed decision-making. In her current role as Senior System Education Officer at the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), Ms Uutsi manages the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS), ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and compliance across higher education institutions. Her responsibilities involve designing secure data capture tools, and conducting in-depth data analysis to inform policy development and organisational improvement. Additionally, she contributes to strategic ICT planning and budgeting.

Mr Edo-Omufo Triumph
Mr Edo-Omufo Triumph is an esteemed educator and an advocate for computer literacy who holds a B.Sc. (Ed) and a Master’s degree in Computer Science Education from Olabisi Onabanjo University. With over 25 years of experience in Computer Science Education, Mr Triumph has substantially imparted knowledge across all educational levels. Notably, at primary schools and through institutions of high learning, with part-time lecturing roles at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Institute for Open Learning (IOL) respectively. With extensive expertise in Computer Science Education, Mr Triumph provides consultative services to various private schools. Additionally, he is a published author for various Computer Literacy materials. He possesses leadership skills as he currently leads the Jakob Marengo Secondary School as the school principal. In addition to that, he is the founder of Royal Kids Academy, and the current chairman of the IOL Academic Advisory Board (AAB). Mr Triumph is dedicated to advancing educational standards and digital literacy in the field of education.

About IOL

The Institute for Open Learning (IOL) is one of Namibia’s premier private higher education institutions, specializing in open and distance learning. Since its establishment in 1995, IOL has focused on providing accessible, high-quality education aimed at equipping Namibians with essential skills for personal and professional development. IOL has experienced significant growth since inception, enrolling over 62,692 students across various programs in education, business, and vocational training. IOL’s programs are tailored to support Namibia’s socio-economic goals, ensuring flexible and inclusive learning opportunities that meet the country’s demand for a skilled workforce in all areas.

Contact
Institute for Open Learning (IOL)
Tel: +264 (0) 61 270 9100
Email: info@iol.na