Higher education systems worldwide are being transformed by digital technologies, yet they continue to operate with very different levels of resources, digital capacity, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the higher education sector is expanding at an unprecedented pace. Across Southern Africa, higher education enrolment is surging. In Namibia, for example, enrolment increased by 30% between 2020 and 2024 according to the Namibia National Council for Higher Education, while cross-border mobility is also accelerating. In Botswana, international student enrolment increased by 68% between 2022 and 2023, according to the Human Resource Development Council of Botswana.
Overlaying this physical expansion is a rapid shift in teachers and students’ learning behaviours, driven by technological advancement. According to a 2025 UNESCO survey, 90% of higher education institutions hosting a UNESCO Chair or UNITWIN Network worldwide reported using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their daily work. Nearly 50% are also experimenting with using AI in teaching, including for professional development purposes. As higher education expands across borders and integrates new technologies and learning pathways, it requires a strategic response: stronger and more harmonized quality assurance systems that safeguard educational quality while enabling innovation.
This call to action was further highlighted by Dr. Sylvia Demas, Deputy Executive Director of the Namibia National Council for Higher Education, speaking on behalf of Honourable Dr. Sanet Steenkamp, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture of the Republic of Namibia and Chairperson of the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO:
This major expansion of access must, however, be accompanied by a strong commitment to quality, because access without quality does not constitute genuine empowerment. (…) Increased enrolment should not lead to overstretching of the institutions, the weakening of academic standards, or the delivery of qualifications that do not equip graduates for further study, employment, entrepreneurship and active participation in society.
Dr. Sylvia Demas, Deputy Executive Director of the Namibia National Council for Higher Education.
To address these pressing realities head-on, quality assurance professionals from 19 higher education institutions across Botswana and Namibia gathered at the UNESCO Workshop on Strengthening Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the SADC Region (Botswana and Namibia Chapters) in Windhoek, Namibia, on 29–30 July 2026. Organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) in collaboration with the UNESCO Windhoek Office, the workshop provided a platform for participants to reflect on and exchange experiences in assessment methodologies, curriculum development, digital transformation, and quality enhancement strategies. Beyond technical alignment, the gathering reinforced UNESCO ROSA’s region-wide vision: creating a culture of quality and continuous improvement, fostering mutual trust while concretizing regional collaboration to build more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready higher education systems.
The workshop also addressed key issues such as accreditation mechanisms, harmonization, and recognition of qualifications within the frameworks of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education and the Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in African States (Addis Convention).[QK1]  Dr. Peter J. Wells, Head of Education at the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to support members states ratify and implement both Conventions in his presentation on how the conventions strengthen the triple helix of recognition, cooperation, and quality.
The Botswana and Namibia workshop forms part of the broader UNESCO workshop series on Strengthening Quality Assurance in Higher Education across the SADC Region. Since its inception in October 2024, three key lessons have emerged: quality assurance is strengthened through collaboration, sustained through capacity strengthening, and remains effective through continuous adaptation and innovation. So far, the initiative has reached nearly 190 quality assurance professionals and higher education staff from 90 accredited institutions across six countries: Zimbabwe (October 2024), Zambia (May 2025), Eswatini and Lesotho (October 2025), and now Botswana and Namibia (July 2026). Building on recommendations from previous workshops, the initiative has created a growing regional community of practice that promotes peer learning, trust, and cross-border cooperation.Â
By bringing together the regulatory authorities, policymakers, and university leadership from both Botswana and Namibia, we are fostering a collective vision for a dynamic, quality-driven higher education culture across the SADC region.
highlighted Ms. Rebecca Dudu Roy, Manager for Higher Education at the Botswana Qualifications Authority.
Making Quality Assurance responsive to digital transformation
In a UNESCO pre-workshop survey conducted ahead of the event, 91%Â of participants identified digital transformation, including the ethical and effective integration of AI, as a priority. Responding directly to this demand, discussions centred on strengthening competencies in curriculum design and digital transformation, particularly the responsible use of generative AI (GenAI). Above all, the collective emphasis on these topics reflected a growing recognition that quality assurance frameworks and approaches to academic integrity must continue evolving to remain fit for purpose in the digital age.
This workshop comes at a timely moment as higher education systems across the region grapple with rapid digital transformation, which is largely shaped by the rise of AI, growing student mobility, and rising expectations for accountability and relevance.
noted Ms. Eunice Smith, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Namibia.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/botswana-and-namibia-strengthen-quality-assurance-prepare-higher-education-digital-age?hub=701
