23 Feb 2016

The search for Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) vice chancellor (VC) is ongoing, having commenced in 2015.

Briefing councillors during Palapye Sub-council meeting on February 22, the sub-council chairperson, Mr Lesedi Phuthego, said the search for the VC and deputy vice chancellor-research and innovation was ongoing. He said the deputy vice chancellor-finance and administration assumed duty in December 2015.

The search for the VC followed the resignation of the former BIUST VC, Prof. Hillary Inyang. He said BIUST would continue with its efforts to recruit staff with critical skills, in order to transfer a wealth of knowledge to students and the nation.

He said the university’s curriculum took into account the needs of the private sector and was driven by the mission to contribute to the country’s economy.

He said the university was a national strategic initiative intended to serve as one of the key platforms for transforming the country’s economy from being resource based to knowledge based through skills capacity building engineering, science and technology.

Furthermore, Mr Phuthego said BIUST was progressing well in terms of infrastructure development as well as teaching and learning. He said the university enrolled 1 900 students including 206 post graduate and 56 international students.

In terms of infrastructure, he said the university embarked on an aggressive infrastructure development with new pre-fabricated buildings built to be used for office accommodation and lecture rooms. The three blocks of the college of sciences, he said were completed and handed over in last November.

The university, he said also embarked on a seven year strategic plan spanning from 2015/16 to 2022/23. The university hosted a successful international clean energy conference with delegations from across the globe. He said the nation will in future reap the rewards of the conference.

The university also hosted the International Conference on Transportation in Africa which was aimed at exchanging information and ideas and sharing the development of products in the field of transportation.
In collaboration with the Australian National University, he said the university rolled out a nationwide community outreach programme entitled “Demystifying Science.”

In addition the university engaged in Monitoring for Environmental Security in Africa (MESA) which resulted in a partnership of BIUST hosting the Earth Observation Data Equipment.
The equipment will greatly benefit the research of students and lecturers and contribute knowledge for Palapye and surrounding villages. Ends