ISO 9001: 2015 Quality management systems training for NIPAM


NIPAM Employees were taken through a weeklong training programme on ISO 9001: 2015 quality management systems by the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) from 6 to 10 May 2019.
The workshop was aimed at raising awareness on the ISO 9001:2015 Namibian Standards, improving staff competencies and technical know-how on ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System as it relates to ISO 9001 Principles, Context of the Organisation, Leadership, Planning, Support, Operations, Performance Evaluation and Improvement and repositioning NIPAM towards its goal of accreditation.
NIPAM Executive Director, Ms. Maria N. Nangolo said, the ISO programme is a new journey NIPAM wish to embark upon to get a functional Quality Management System in place which will also support the envisaged Accreditation process. Establishment and implementation of a Quality Management System is one of the key quality requirements for accreditation with NQA since there is an outcry for NIPAM to produce programmes and courses that are not only relevant but also accredited.
“As the leader of the Academic Team, it is my view that we need to develop the short courses into Unit Standards. Such an approach will benefit us in the sense that different Unit Standards can lead to a qualification over a period of time. This will allow our clients to benefit from qualification articulation arrangements to enter into institutions of higher learning”, Ms. Nangolo highlighted.
It is the plan of the institute to have the ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System in place and revise learning programmes and courses in a form of Unit Standards and Qualifications so that by 2020 accredited training programmes are offered. The purpose of introducing ISO 9001 Quality Management System in our context are not only to secure accreditation status with the NQA but most importantly are as follows:

  • To consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements;
  • Enhance customer satisfaction
  • Managing risks and opportunities and
  • Demonstrate conformity to specified QMS requirements.