12 Jul 2021

University of Botswana has launched 16 PhD scholarships focused on Teaching and Research for both local and international students across all faculties.

Speaking during the launch of the scholarships on Friday, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe commended the institution for the initiative, saying it would positively contribute to human capital development.

Dr Letsholathebe, who is also MP for Tati East, said the scholarship would continuously improve the University’s rankings and competitiveness, as well as enhance the growth of Post-graduates enrolment and the output research at the university.

Dr Letsholathebe also commended the university management for the newly launched strategy titled; Creating a Future for the Knowledge Generation 2020-2029 that sought to reposition the university in terms of providing quality education, research, innovation, and engagement for sustainable national development in the knowledge-based economy.

He said the strategy challenged University of Botswana to take an instrumental role as a key player in higher education as well as address issues that were fundamental to the national agenda.

Additionally, he said the strategy was aligned with the National Vision goal of Achieving Prosperity for All.

Meanwhile, Dr Letsholathebe said while the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge, the university continued to play an active role against it through sound and informed human and material resources as well as facilities.

“This is what universities are for, they ought to provide direction in instances where the nation appears desperate in times of adversity,” he said.

Giving an overview of the Post-Graduate Scholarships, acting dean, School of Graduate Studies, Prof. Agreement Jotia said the cost of higher education had continued to escalate globally.

He said the university embarked on approaches to make higher education more accessible and affordable, hence the scholarships.

“UB will award a total of two scholarships per faculty, for a total of 16 scholarships.

The faculty will have the latitude to determine which departments are in the greatest need of assistance regarding teaching staff, as well as being under-enrolled and then allocated the scholarships to those departments,” he said.

He said the university proposed to begin by offering scholarships on the Post Graduate Teaching, focusing on teaching and research, adding that the number of scholarships would be reviewed every academic year.

Prof. Jotia said the Post Graduate scholarships awardees shall receive a full tuition waiver with a stipend, also adding that it was proposed that the scholarships be implemented in the 2021-2022 academic year if the economic conditions at the university improved.

He said the initiative was taken to enhance the human resource level within the academe as well as to attract and retain more highly qualified Mphil/PhD students and simultaneously promote capacity building by employing experienced students as teaching assistants.

Prof. Jotia said the approach would also nurture the professional development of students while enriching their research experience as they would be expected to attend conferences and publish, thus contributing immensely o the university’s institutional visibility.

“Taking into account the economic dynamics as well as the challenges triggered by COVID- 19 pandemic, UB has decided to offer postgraduate scholarships to attract more multi-cultural and intellectually diverse students while increasing post-graduate enrolments compatible with the new strategy of  Creating a Future for the Knowledge Generation,’’ he said.

He further said the scholarships would be awarded to prospective or current graduate students who had demonstrated an outstanding academic record, research experience, and publication among others. ENDS