29 Jun 2017

Partnership between University of Botswana (UB) and Akita University of Japan is envisaged to have a positive return to Botswana in various fields of sciences, especially medicine and mining.

Head of geology department at UB, Dr Kebabonye Laletsang said in an interview after the management of the two higher institutions of learning engaged in discussion on how to further nurture their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in 2010.

Dr Laletsang noted that since Botswana was experiencing acute shortage of skilled experts in the science fields, he was optimistic that the partnership, through student exchange programmes and scholarships, would undoubtedly capacitate this area, more especially in mineral exploration and medical science.

He said the graduates would assist the country in these areas and further secure employment both in the country and internationally because of the skills they possessed, noting that this development would add value to economy of the country.

During their one hour discussion, the parties expressed the need to collaborate on a wide range of scientific courses.

For her part, UB acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Kgomotso Moahi noted that the two should collaborate on a wide range of subject courses, which the country dearly needed and they should be able to offer good rewards.

Prof Moahi however said this partnership needed concerted efforts from all concerned parties, noting that the intended projects to be undertaken should be fully supported.

She was happy that beneficiary to Akita University student exchange programme return to Botswana with a sharp approach to work.

She however stressed the need for the two institutions to partner more on the field of medicine and urged her counterparts to send their experts on this field to UB on regular intervals to lecture and share ideas with their UB counterparts.

In the meantime, the newly appointed president of Akita University, Prof. Fumio Yamamoto, who had also come to familirise himself with UB, said the two should commit themselves and have a year planner so that in their next meeting, which he proposed to be in Japan, they should have something tangible.

He said this assisted on how resources would be distributed.

Prof. Yamamoto said although they had some shortage of skilled personnel, they were committed to seeing this partnership blossom.

So far 13 Batswana students have benefitted and this year Akita University has offered two posts for Batswana.

Akita University was established in 1949 by the merger of Akita Normal School (established in 1878), Akita Mining College (established in 1910) and Akita Youth Normal School (established in 1944).

The university initially offered degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences and mining engineering.

In 1965, a graduate studies programme in mining engineering was established.

In 1967, Akita University established a Department of Education, followed in 1970 by a Medical School and University Hospital in 1971.

A graduate programme in medicine was established in 1976 and a graduate programme in Education in 1989.

A college of Medical Sciences was also established in 1989. ENDS