18 Jun 2013

Botho University has attained yet another milestone following its ISO 9001:2008 certification by the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS).

Speaking at the June 17 ceremony where the certificate was handed over, BOBS acting managing director, Mr Keeper Morgan said the certification was awarded to Botho University as recognition of its quality management systems.

Mr Morgan said the university, the first private institution to be awarded a standard certification in the country, was one of the 33 holders of such certificates.
However, he said it was important for the university to uphold the standards otherwise it would lose the certification.

“It is important to note that certification is not static and thus depending on continued compliance to requirements of the relevant standard, an organisation may either remain on the certification register or may lose its certification,” he said.

Mr Morgan said many organisations around the world had their products and management systems certified in recognition of the importance of providing products and services of consistent quality and in response to the common desire of satisfying customers.

He said the university applied for certification in September last year and following the evaluation of the application, audits were conducted last November and February this year and the last in April.

He added that the decision to award the ISO 9001:2008 certificate was made last month. Vice Chancellor, Mrs Sheila Raja Ram said they were pleased to have the certification saying it was an assurance that they were effectively delivering quality education.

“Within Botho University context, ISO 9001:2008 certification has meant promotion of quality awareness and quality assurance,” she said. She further said the certification was difficult to obtain but the challenge was also in keeping up with the required standards.

“Having achieved ISO certification, Botho University will not rest on its laurels but continue to build confidence and the culture of quality in its students and staff, which will in turn result in better graduate quality in the world of work,” she said.

Botho University is now able to use BOBS sign in their materials such as advertisement as all the three campuses, Gaborone, Francistown and Maun are certified.ENDS