12 Sep 2017

Vice Chancellor of Botswana International University of Science and Technology Professor Otlogetswe Totolo says that until Botswana invests significantly in research and development achieving economic diversification and knowledge based economy will  be a pipe dream.

Speaking at Central District Council meeting, Tuesday, Prof Totolo said that Botswana invested a paltry 0.26 per cent of her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on research and development. This he said would see the country still very much reliant on diamonds for revenue.

Prof Totolo found that no country in Africa invested above one per cent of its GDP on research and development.

However, Prof Totolo was upbeat that through BIUST economic diversification and knowledge based economy were possible.

The BIUST head said that Botswana was underperforming in investing in science and technology, the fields he found to be crucial towards economic development of any country. He observed that countries like Uganda and Kenya had improved in that regard.

Prof Totolo found that Botswana’s economy would be adversely affected if the country failed to invest in science and technology.

He told the councilors that BIUST was indispensable undertaking as a catalyst towards innovation and transformation.  His assertions were that many countries had managed to develop because of developing information and technology as well as engineering.

Initially Botswana sent its top achievers to study science and technology abroad in the United States of America and the likes, but took a conscious decision to establish BIUST in an effort to reduce costs as well as train a good number of scientist and engineers, according to Prof Totolo.

Prof Totolo informed the CDC councilors that BUST was strategically positioned and that it was upon the university to contribute meaningfully in Palapye and the country at large. In addition, the BIUST head said that Palapye would soon be a university town as has been practiced in other countries.

In emphasizing the importance of a science and technology university, Prof Totolo stated that BIUST must impact positively on Botswana economy and compete globally as was the dream of the former president Dr Festus Mogae.

The university admits top performers with scores of over 40 points and currently boasts 1900 students. The university has seen graduates in science courses last year whilst the engineering students were yet to graduate owing to their five year study term since opening in 2012.

An expensive project BIUST is, the university has set standards high where on PHD holders are employed as lecturers. The university expects to enroll 6000 students by the end of National Development Plan 11, according to the vice chancellor. ENDS