Old Mutual Reaches out to Education

November 26 - Old Mutual, one of South Africa's largest insurance companies, has made another generous donation to the community - this time to an educational facility in Namibia.

An agreement was signed this week between the Polytechnic of Namibia and Old Mutual that is reportedly worth $300,000. The money will be used to improve the services offered by the library in the Polytechnic and will be given out over a three year period.

Old Mutual said that it would pay N$100,000 every year, starting this year and continuing until 2010.

It is believed that Old Mutual chose the Polytechnic of Namibia because of its own policy of outreach. The library's internet and research services are readily available to the wider community - whether connected to the Polytechnic or not - because of the institution's mission statement that includes national development.

The Marketing Manager for Old Mutual, Lelanie Basson said: "This investment has been fully justified by the sharp increase in the number of library users comprising more than 9,400 students, 300-plus academic staff of the Polytechnic, scores of distance learning students from other educational institutions and dozens of researchers from corporate and government institutions in Namibia."

The majority of the money from Old Mutual's donation will be used to buy a custom made information system, while the rest will be used for information technology purchases.

"Old Mutual's funding will allow for the acquisition of a tailor made Library Information and Management System (LIMS) during the first two years," explained Basson. "The third tranche will ensure the purchase of additional computers and reference material."