Balancing creativity and career, COTA students are stepping into the working world before they even graduate. At College of the Arts, learning goes beyond lectures and classrooms; it becomes a lived experience. For many students, the journey is not just about studying but actively stepping into the working world while still pursuing their education. One COTA student is currently balancing work alongside their studies, in a role directly linked to their field. Martha Elongo, a

“I think they should still prepare us for the outer industry.” In the growing world of renewable energy, solar installation is one of the most in-demand technical skills on the continent. Yet for Kavesora Kutamundu, a second-year Solar Installation Equipment and Maintenance student at WVTC, entering the workplace has revealed a gap that no amount of classroom training has fully closed. His account is a frank look at employer expectations, institutional shortcomings, and what

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is meant to be more than just a requirement for graduation; it should be a powerful stepping stone into the professional world. For many students at the National Institute of Technology, however, the experience does not always live up to that expectation. While WIL offers valuable exposure, there are still clear gaps that need to be addressed to ensure it truly prepares students for real-world careers. At the centre of this issue is the role of

“I was just getting up to go to work for the sake of getting my degree. I did not have that internal drive to actually gain anything from the experience.” For many Namibian university students, the internship is a rite of passage a bridge between the classroom and the professional world. But what happens when that bridge costs you more than it gives? Mbitjita Tjijaundja, a fourth-year student, sat down to share her experience with unpaid placement, the quiet erosion of motiva