Interview with Dr. Job Shipupulo Amupanda from the University of Namibia

Can you please introduce yourself and let me know about your areas of expertise?

I am a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Management and Political Studies at the University of Namibia, where I teach courses on Political Philosophy and Decolonial Studies.

What motivated you to go to UHK in the Czech Republic, and what inspired you to apply for this program?

During my lectures at UHK in the Czech Republic, I focused on the topic of Decoloniality and its importance in former colonies. Unfortunately, the concept of Decoloniality is often misunderstood, particularly in Europe. Thus, I saw this as an opportunity to engage with European scholars and students and discuss the impacts of colonialism. This was my primary motivation for coming to UHK.

Secondly, I was also keen to engage with a diverse audience from different backgrounds and orientations. I believe that learning is a continuous process, and we can always benefit from exchanging views and knowledge with people in different contexts. By interacting with individuals from diverse environments, I hoped to unlearn and relearn new perspectives.

Thirdly, colleagues from the University of Hradec Kralove had visited the University of Namibia, and I wanted to reciprocate this gesture by strengthening the relationship between our institutions. This exchange program provides an opportunity to build bridges and create a mutually beneficial relationship between our universities.

How has your experience been in the Czech Republic so far since you arrived?

I have not had much time to visit a lot of places except for Germany. For the time I have been here, I must admit that this place has a quite efficient infrastructure especially as one coming from Africa where our infrastructure is still lagging, particularly, public transport. I am impressed by how the transport system works efficiently and promptly as one is able to travel with much ease. I would however like to learn more about the Czech Republic

What specifically would you wish to know about the Czech Republic?

I wish to know more particularly about the country’s history, their culture, their national cuisine. It would have been great to get a guide on a few things such as how to move around more promptly and how to find various facilities such as shopping malls etc. With regards to UHK, I would wish to get a more elaborate orientation different from the city tour that I had with the Namibian students the other day. One visiting the UHK should have a knowledge of the University’s fraternity, the various faculties, the leadership of the university, how much staff are therein the Political Science department for instance, amongst others. I would recommend having someone more knowledgeable on the history and culture of Czech Republic and specifically Hradec Kralove take us through the orientation. Such a person would know perhaps the history of a given building, the architectural style and so on.

What took you to Germany? Was there a similar program?

Since I didn't have much to do here on Friday, I decided to take the opportunity to meet a friend of mine in Berlin

What was your experience like when interacting with the Czech language for the first time?

I've had no difficulty communicating with the locals or navigating my way around here as they have been quite hospitable towards English speakers. Whenever they didn't comprehend my English, they would rely on Google Translate to comprehend my queries.

Have you taken part in a similar program before?

This is my first time in the Czech Republic. My colleague came here last November for a similar program, but I have had the opportunity to facilitate exchange programs and go on various academic visits, though not to teach. This program will be my first experience teaching extensively abroad, spanning a duration of 13 days.

In your opinion, how effective has this program been?

As this is my first time being on a program of this kind, I may not be the best person to rate its effectiveness. However, I can share my colleagues' perspective, specificallyy the academicians who visited the University of Namibia from UHK. From what I've observed, their visit has been productive and beneficial for my home university, though I cannot provide a comparative analysis based on my personal experience.

Can the task be completed within the two-week timeframe given?

I believe that the two-week duration allotted for the program is adequate. However, the only difficulty I faced was the limited time available for rest after traveling for long hours on a plane. For instance, I had a lengthy journey from Namibia and arrived on the evening of the 26th, only to begin my sessions the next day. In my opinion, it would have been beneficial to have a day off to adjust after the trip.

Are there any future collaborations or plans that you are considering?

As I had discussed with Tomáš, I am interested in co-supervising particularly Post-graduate African students in their specific courses. This means that while they have their supervisor here at UHK, I will be available to supervise some of them in their respective courses.

How did you balance your responsibilities at your home university while taking on this opportunity?

During my stay here, I have been recording voice messages and sending them to my students back at my home university. Since my number of students is small, it has been simple to coordinate sending these recordings through WhatsApp groups that are managed by the class representatives.

How would you describe your classes here?

One of the things that I appreciate about the classes here is the diversity in the classrooms. My classes contained students from Latin America, Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa. I find this wonderful.

Did you feel it was necessary to have a separate class for bachelor's, master's, or PhD students?

In my opinion, having separate classes for bachelor's, master's, and PhD students isn't necessary for this course since it's not credit-bearing. It's actually beneficial for students of different levels to learn together, as this allows them to share their diverse experiences and engage in valuable discussions.

Have you had the chance to engage with any Namibian students who are currently enrolled in UHK?

Certainly. I had the chance to meet two students from the University of Namibia, and I have also had some of my own students who have studied here in previous semesters. Through our interactions, I have observed that they are benefiting greatly from the diverse environment and are learning a lot.

Have the students faced any challenges or difficulties during their time here?

In regards to the students from my home university who have studied here before, I unfortunately did not have the chance to hear their feedback about their experiences. I believe it is important for us as an institution to encourage feedback from our students, so that we can better understand the challenges they faced and find ways to resolve them. This feedback could be collected by our coordinator or head of department. One of the challenges that some students faced was having to write exams for their home university courses while studying here. This is something that we hope to eliminate as it can prevent students from fully focusing on their courses here.

What is the level of class participation like in your classes at UHK?

As an instructor who emphasizes active class participation, I make sure to provide opportunities for students to share what they have learned from the lecture with the rest of the class. For instance, in my most recent class, I asked each student to present what they learned and what they found interesting. Given my approach, the level of class participation at UHK was comparable to that of my home university, the University of Namibia.

Is the time scheduled for learning convenient for you or you think it need some adjustments?

I find the time very convenient as it is not too much that the students cannot manage.

Based on your experience, do you have any suggestions on how the program could be improved or enhanced?

As mentioned earlier, I would suggest allowing visiting professors some time to rest and recharge, especially if they have traveled a long distance. Additionally, I would encourage UHK to review the correspondence of credits between the courses offered here and those studied by the students in their home university. This would help ensure that the courses are well aligned and that students are able to transfer credits smoothly. For instance, if a student has a 16-credit module at their home university, they should be able to achieve an equivalent number of credits at the host university.

What new insights or knowledge have you gained during your time at UHK that you would like to share with your students back at University of Namibia? 

During my time here, I was impressed by how the students can receive discounts on various things, such as transportation and meals, by using their student cards. I think this is a great initiative that could be implemented at our university as well, although it may take some time to execute.

Can you provide any suggestions for professors who are considering teaching at UHK in the future?

One recommendation I have for professors who are planning to visit UHK in the future is to prepare well in advance for the program. This includes getting their teaching materials ready and setting their minds to the program ahead of time. It's also important for them to plan for logistics such as visa applications and travel arrangements early enough to avoid any delays or complications. For countries where the visa application process takes longer, professors should start the process early to ensure that they arrive in a timely manner.

Were there any instances where your expectations were different from the reality during your participation in this program?

As a frequent traveler who has visited other countries before, I did not have any significant moments where my expectations did not match reality during this program.

Did you try any Czech cuisine during your stay?

At a dinner I had with Dr. Stanislav and the Vice-Dean for International Affairs at the Philosophical Faculty, Ph.D. Stephanie Inge Rudwick, I had the opportunity to try a Czech dish with dumplings and meat, which I later learned is called Goulash.