05 Jun 2019

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has been challenged to engage the private sector and industries for collaboration to have better understanding about economic revolution.

The call was made by the Head of Ore Processing at Debswana Diamond Mining Company, Mr Edwin Elias, who was a guest speaker at the STEM Festival, Research and Innovation Symposium 2019, held at BIUST in Palapye on June 4.

“It is surely in the interest of industry to find local solutions to their business challenges. I therefore, challenge industry too to realise that BIUST, as a technology inclined institution, has immeasurable inert potential that it can ride on,” he said.

Mr Elias said technological and scientific revolutions underpin economic advances, translating into improvements in health systems, education and infrastructure for doing business.

He implored industry to appreciate that BIUST and other STEM inclined institutions could be cradles for their economic revolution and assurance of their global competitiveness.

He said he was cognizant of the ongoing national efforts to create an enabling environment for the STEM race, particularly in establishing relevant policies, structures and institutions.

Mr Elias said the Revised National Policy on Research, Science, Technology and Innovation highlights the importance of policies that stimulate the translation of scientific and technical capabilities into knowledge-intensive, value-added goods and services across all sectors of the economy.

“BIUST was established to become a vehicle for science and technology development, through research and technology transfer,” he said.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, BIUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, indicated that various institutions had gathered to witness another milestone in their shared journey of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in partnership with the research and innovation symposium.

Prof. Totolo noted that BIUST is a research intensive University and the only specialised higher learning institution in Botswana, with its intended platform being to be the gateway to the much desired goal of ‘Engagement for Development’.

He stated that the week was dedicated to celebrate STEM as a solution to everyday life, be it at local, regional or international level.

He noted that STEM intended to move the country to a knowledge-based economy with skills, products and services that make life better for the people and that contribute to the nation’s wealth and wellbeing.

Prof. Totolo said through the festival and symposium, the university sought to deepen its commitment and strengthen its core mission of research and innovation as well as application.

He shared that BIUST occupied a 2,500-hectare piece of land and has a student base of 2000 all housed on campus and two per cent of staff drawn from the international community who would be showcasing their products, research skills and experiences. ENDS