02 Jul 2018

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has set an enrolment target of 6 000 comprising 4 500 undergraduates and 1 500 postgraduate students by 2024.

This was revealed by the university’s marketing and communications director Mr Keoagile Rafifing during a recent visit to the Palapye campus by Lobatse Town Council.

Since it started operating, the university has had two graduation ceremonies with a total of 58 graduates, he said adding that it had experienced tremendous growth with 224 students, including two PHD as well as 67 masters degrees, graduating this year.

Mr Rafifing informed the visitors that BIUST intended building a science park where people would turn natural resources into tangible products and services through research.

According to Mr Rafifing, the institution, built on a 2 500 hectare piece of land said to be 10 times larger than the University of Botswana, occupied such a large area for strategic reasons.

He said since the school was still new, it was teaching and developing at the same time.

Mr Rafifing informed the guests, who were on a retreat in Palapye, that their visit was much appreciated because BIUST considered stakeholder collaboration very important.

He said BIUST was looking forward to visiting Lobatse Town Council.

Speaking in an interview,  Lobatse mayor Ms Malebogo Kruger described BIUST as unique as it offered rare courses not found in other local universities.

She said enrolment was impressive and the quality of education offered exceptional while the institution was well equipped to produce superior engineers and scientists capable of helping to transform this country into a knowledge based economy.

In addition, she said, the university gave students exposure by attaching them to various industries to enhance their knowledge and skill.

Ms Kruger encouraged learners across the country to choose science and mathematics courses which would help diversify the economy and in turn create employment for young people.

Explaining their presence in Palapye, she said they were there to review the council’s strategic plan and the mayor’s road map but saw it fit to visit BIUST.

“We saw it fit to also appreciate BIUST as the new university of science and technology in the country,” explained Ms Kruger.ENDS