In May, a Namibian delegation comprising senior representatives from the education, research, and energy sectors undertook a four-day skills exchange study tour to the Netherlands, aimed at accelerating the country’s green hydrogen ambitions through knowledge-sharing and institutional collaboration.
The study tour, coordinated by the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy and the Dutch Consulate in South Africa, follows the release of a 2024 report commissioned by the Netherlands on Namibia’s green hydrogen skills landscape. The report recommended targeted engagements to support capacity building for a just and inclusive energy transition.
The Namibian delegation comprised of participants from:
- The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts & Culture (MEIYSAC)
- The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P)
- The Namibia Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST)
- The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE)
- The University of Namibia (UNAM)
- The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)
- The Namibia Green Hydrogen Research Institute (NGHRI)
- The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA); and
- Vocational Training Centres coordinated by the Namibia Training Authority (NTA).
The tour began with engagements at YES!Delft, one of Europe’s leading tech incubators, and TU Delft’s Green Village, where delegates explored how Dutch institutions integrate research, industry, and local governments to advance green hydrogen innovation.
In Rotterdam, the delegation toured the Port of Rotterdam and RDM innovation hub to understand the infrastructure and workforce planning behind Europe’s largest hydrogen development initiatives.
A key highlight was the Human Capital Agenda dialogue led by Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, which focused on human capital development and entrepreneurship.
The tour is expected to inform a national strategy for green hydrogen education and training, including curriculum development, research partnerships, private sector linkages, and infrastructure requirements. It was further aimed to establish long-term collaboration frameworks between Namibian and Dutch institutions.
As Namibia positions itself as a global player in clean energy, this exchange marks a vital step in ensuring local institutions are equipped to deliver the skills, innovation, and research needed to support the country’s green industrialisation goals.
