Rakel Kavena Shalyefu is an Associate Professor at the University of Namibia in the Department of Higher Education and Lifelong Learning. She holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Design and Distance Education from Pennsylvania State University (USA), a Master's in Adult Education from the University of Massachusetts (USA), a postgraduate degree of Bachelor of Education (Honours) from UNISA, a Bachelor of Pedagogics from the University of Fort Hare (SA), a Certificate in Arbitration, Negotiation and Reconciliation and a Certificate in HIV/AIDS Counseling from the University of Namibia and a Certificate in Public Administration from the Polytechnic of Namibia, and Certificate in Education for Sustainable Development from University of Uppsala, Sweden.
She is an instructional designer, academic developer and an adult educator by training and in practice she is responsible for training lectures, tutors, instructors and community developers to become professional educators. She is an educational materials developer and a designer of learning programmes. Her work includes the development of the following:
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a Master's in Higher Education (to be offered from 2025),
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a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education for Academics (offered at UNAM)
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A Certificate in Education for Development (offered at NAMCOL),
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a training manual for Social Work Managers on Social Entrepreneurship and Financial Management (Ministry of Health and Social Services),
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Study on Competency-based education and training in vocational education and training in Namibia: Issues and Options Paper. RFP2013/03 for the Namibia Training Authority done in 2014 and available at: www.nta.com,
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a module for a UNESCO Literacy Project: Life Skills for the Adults,
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Designed and developed materials for the Walvis Bay Corridor Group HIV/AIDS Helpdesk for the truck drivers: brochures on condom use and STIs, Case studies on Facts about HIV & AIDS.2009 -2010,
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Math Literacy course for Adult Educators as a model for the mathematics remedial programme at the University of Namibia (UNAM) in 2008,
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developed a Life Skills Course collaboratively under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Trinidad and Tobago sponsored by the Commonwealth of Learning,
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contributed to a chapter to the study guide for the Training Course on Information and Communication Technologies for UNESCO in 2002,
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developed rubric instruments to assess ISTE’s (International Society for Technology in Education) national educational technology standards for teachers (NETS-T). ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED470188
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contributed to developing training materials for the School Principals and Educational Managers as a member of the SADC materials development team in Kwazulu-Natal, SA under the supervision of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and SADC Ministries of Education and Institutions in 2000
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trained and researched using ‘Popular theatre’ well-known as Theatre for Development (TfD) as a way of educating the youth on HIV/AIDS. A model adopted as a tool to raise awareness on various issues in communities and literacy classes in Namibia 1994 -1995.
Her research interesrs are on Youth and Adult Learning and Education, Studies in Higher Education, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Education for Sustainability Development and Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Many Literacies and Decoloniality.
She engages in community services, policy formulation and strategic guidelines collaboratively with other scholars at the University of Namibia, a Master Trainer in Teaching and Learning Theories, Facilitation Methods and Bible-based Trauma Healing. She is also a Life Coach on Youth and Adults, an Adviser in Marriage and Family Counselling and Enrichment, a Promoter of Boy- and Girl-Child Programmes for Empowerment and a Mentor in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.
Her multiple interests and exposures make her a resourceful person. She is enthusiastic and carries a positive attitude. She observes academic traditions and her academic voice and identity advocates for interdisciplinary collaborations.