08 Aug 2019

 Botswana College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) principal, Ms Mildred Boduwe, has urged students at the institution to always be eager to learn.

When officially opening BCET’s second annual industry expo in Gaborone recently, Ms Boduwe appealed to students to exploit what was going to be availed to them.

She said students would be given an opportunity to interact with captains of the industry.

She highlighted that the event would set the tone and the foundation for them to find meaning in their interactions with anything educational, while giving other people an opportunity to know more about the institution.

“BCET has committed itself to the ministry that as part of spreading the message of technical and vocational education, it will on annual basis, conduct the expos,” said Ms Boduwe. 

Mr Obakeng Segwagwe, programmes manager at Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) urged the students to use BIH amenities since they promoted technology, entrepreneurship and commercialisation on a purpose built science and technology.

He encouraged BCET students to partake in BIH activities like the more than 3000 individuals who were already participating in them. 

Mr Segwagwe cited the example of their collaboration with Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) on different initiatives, including entrepreneurship boot-camps and support for students to participate in marathon events.

He encouraged the students to consider the SEED fund, which covered innovation projects from applied research to pre-commercialisation in the development of a product or process. He further explained that the maximum grant is P500, 000.00.

 For his part, Mr Pat Mwezi, BCET communication officer, said the objectives of the expo were to prepare students for the labour market, encourage compliance to regulatory bodies by both staff and students upon exit from the college as well as fostering a sense of entrepreneurship and cutting edge innovation among the students.

He further explained that BCET is a government tertiary institution under the Department of Teacher Training and Technical Education in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, which was re-constituted in 2008 as a diploma offering institution. ENDS