WELWITCHIA UNIVERSITY STRENGTHENS FORENSIC SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE THROUGH NAMIBIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE FIELD VISITS

Welwitchia University has strengthened its reputation as a leader in practice-oriented social work education through a series of educational field visits to the Namibian Correctional Service facilities in Windhoek. As part of the Forensics and Criminology in Social Work module, a core component of the Bachelor of Social Work programme, seven third-year students and one academic lecturer spent time at the Windhoek Male and Female Correctional Facilities. These visits allowed students to gain first-hand insight into the workings of the country’s correctional system. The visits were formally approved by the Commissioner-General of the Namibian Correctional Service on 16 March 2026, reflecting the institution’s commitment to partnering with government agencies on teaching and professional development.

The engagement at the Windhoek Male Correctional Facility on 17 April 2026, led by Deputy Commissioner Oscar Numwa, and the follow-up visit to the Windhoek Female Correctional Facility on 24 April 2026, under Assistant Commissioner Julia Nauvinga, gave students a structured, real-world view of offender rehabilitation, community reintegration, and the role of social workers in forensic and custodial settings. Students were required to comply with all security protocols and submit identity documentation in advance, reinforcing the professional and formal nature of the collaboration.

Through these field visits, learners moved beyond the classroom to observe daily operations, gender-responsive approaches, and the ethical challenges present in high-security environments. The experience allowed them to apply criminological theory to live case environments, build professional networks with correctional officers and in-house social workers, and deepen their understanding of ethical practice in sensitive contexts. Welwitchia University’s partnership with the NCS illustrates its ability to forge meaningful, high-level collaborations that benefit students, institutions, and Namibian society. By training social workers who understand the correctional environment, the university directly contributes to national goals for rehabilitation, social justice, and reduced recidivism, while reinforcing its positioning as a provider of practice-ready, socially responsive graduates.