14 Aug 2019

University of Botswana (UB) students and staff will soon get an opportunity to enroll and study in Germany following the signing of an agreement with Justus-Liebig University of Germany.

UB vice-chancellor Professor David Norris said the agreement, signed in Gaborone Tuesday, aligned well with the promotion of academic exchange through scholarships for the benefit of both researchers and staff.

He said UB had been part of the German-Botswana relationship with several research-based projects having benefited from Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

“Moreover a number of colleagues, projects and students have also benefitted from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).  The Humanities Koblenz-Landau DAAD sponsored exchange project has been active since 2004 and has immensely benefitted both UB students and staff,” he said.

Prof. Norris said the hosting of Germany’s Justus –Liebig University was relevant as its mandate spoke to everything that UB cherished.

He said it focused on the need to improve economic and social conditions of the nation through excellent delivery of learning and advance knowledge.

“DAAD’s aim to stimulate interest in Germany, its culture and language and preserve language diversity in research and academia fits very well with our internationalisation drive. University of

Botswana has already started language centres in French, Chinese, Portuguese and Korean languages and hope is that DAAD will work with UB to start a German language centre which will assist our postgraduate scholars to interact with German scholars and institutions more deeply,” he said.

Prof. Norris lauded the contribution made by Germany to Botswana’s economy and the wellbeing of its citizens through diplomatic relations dating back to 1966.

“Over the years the two countries have collaborated in various fields of development, such as education, environment, tourism, water, energy, trade and investment,” he said.

 He said records indicated that in the past 10 years, UB had up to seven memoranda with German academic institutions with three still active.

“Germany has made a major contribution to Botswana by assisting in its core challenges such as diversification of the economy, promoting and empowering new entrepreneurs and pursuing goal-oriented education and training,” he said. ENDS