09 Jul 2015

Government has developed a research and innovation strategy for tertiary education institution, which seeks to promote policy and industry relevant research.

Answering a question in parliament, the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said the strategy was approved by the former Tertiary Education Council (TEC) in 2011, and it was now being implemented by the department of Statistics, Research, Development and Innovation of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).

The research strategy, he said had three goals; to build research capacity in tertiary education institutions, to promote university-government-industry (triple helix) research links and linkages as well as to promote graduate students sponsorship through which a greater research community would be created to support more research for development.

Mr Autlwetse further said as an effort to promote policy and industry relevant research by universities and other tertiary education institutions, HRDC had started commissioning research studies with focus on identified topics such as on employment creation, youth unemployment, youth and HIV, and small enterprise development.

In addition to the foregoing efforts, he said HRDC was working collaboratively with the Department of Research, Science and Technology (DRST) of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST) to develop new procedures and funding for industry and national development research by tertiary education institutions.

“Members would be aware of the recent reforms relating to building research capacity such as the creation of Botswana Institute for Technology and Innovation,” he said.  Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga has wanted the minister to state government’s efforts to bring about the synchronisation of university research, teaching, industry and government in order to stimulate national and regional economic development. Ends