Creative Entrepreneurship Academy 2024
Cooperation between Namibia and Estonia in creative economy, cultural heritage, and digital skills, which began in 2023, continues to grow in 2024. Creative Estonia, the National Commissions for UNESCO in both countries, the UNESCO Windhoek office, Viljandi Culture Academy, and the University of Namibia are working together to modernize higher education curricula in the creative industries. Their joint efforts aim to raise awareness of creative economy and heritage-based entrepreneurship while promoting the digitalization of culture in Namibia.
The project, “Developing heritage-based digital skills and entrepreneurship in Namibia through curriculum enhancement” was launched in August with the Creative Entrepreneurship Academy conference in Windhoek. Titled “Hack the Heritage – Growing Digital: The Role of Education in Preserving and Digitizing Cultural Heritage,” the conference explored how education can support the preservation and digitalization of cultural heritage. Following the conference, a Training of Trainers program brought together experts from Viljandi Culture Academy and the University of Namibia. They shared best practices for developing students’ future skills and discussed ways to combine local cultural heritage—such as arts and crafts, music, and cuisine—with contemporary design, digital solutions, and creative entrepreneurship.
This autumn, collaboration with Namibian partners continued online. In October, a delegation from Namibia National Commission for UNESCO and University of Namibia visited Estonia to strengthen the collaboration between partners, learn more about Estonia’s cultural heritage and creative industries. The visit included meeting at the Ministry of Culture, attending the Viljandi Heritage Festival, organized by the Viljandi Culture Academy, and exploring the UNESCO Chair at the University of Tartu as well as the National Archives of Estonia.
In March 2025, a youth hackathon on heritage and creative industries will be held in Windhoek. Following the hackathon, a three-week online startup accelerator program will provide participants with video lectures and mentoring sessions led by Estonian experts. The program aims to help startups launched during the hackathon develop their business ideas into investor-ready concepts.
The project activities are funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).