05 Nov 2015

Botho University has been encouraged to aspire to reach greater heights in educational research and development in order to produce quality products who can contribute meaningfully in a globalised world.

These were the words of the Ambassador of the United States of America to Botswana, Mr Earl Miller, in his keynote address to the Botho University International Research Conference held in Gaborone yesterday (November 5).

Mr Miller said  it was imperative that Botho and other local institutions of higher learning aspire to produce products who were creative.

“The United States has played its part by sponsoring many students from Africa for post-graduate studies and engaging young African professionals through the Young African Leadership Initiative,” Mr Miller said.

His sentiments were also supported by Professor Felix Maringe, an Assistant Dean at the Faculty of Humanities at Wits University in South Africa.

Prof Maringe argued that since the future of higher education was faced with a mariad of challenges, institutions have to be prepared to reform or transform.

He said institutions were duty bound to produce graduates who were well grounded in knowledge production in order to face a rapidly changing world.

Botho University vice chancellor, Ms Sheela Raja Ram said classrooms need to offer students a multi-dimensional view of the globalised world.

“Students need to be able to be competitive in a globalised environment. The key purpose of education is to prepare our graduates for global employability and make a contribution in society in general,” Ms Ram said

She said that her institution had made strides in terms of the provision of quality education. “We have tried to offer the quality of the bigger institutions but at a fraction of the unit cost,” she said.

Panelist Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo, the deputy vice chancellor (academic and research) at Vaal University in South Africa said information communication technology (ICT) has transformed learning.

“This is where the future is. Our students are well versed in laptop and tablet computing as well as mobile applications. Lecturers need to be able to use such technologies to enhance learning and unleash creativity,” he said.

He said institutions should not just prepare students for the world of work, but produce innovative thinkers. Ends