12 Jul 2021

Botswana Open University (BOU) has been described as one of the vehicles  for moving the nation to a knowledge-based society and economy.

Delivering her inaugural speech after her installation as BOU chancellor recently, Professor Sheila Tlou therefore applauded government for creating the institution.

Prof Tlou said she would focus on the introduction of new disciplines, especially in the health sciences.

The institution should be able to start offering online nursing courses to improve the health care system, she said.

She vowed to promote collaborative research with other institutions to improve the lives of Batswana as well as to address challenges such as climate change, epidemics and pandemics.

Prof Tlou said she was excited to be heading an institution which was founded on principles of equity, flexibility, access, inclusiveness and lifelong learning.

She said lifelong learning resonated because she continued to learn.

Expressing excitement at being part of achieving the BOU road map and advancing its mission, vision and goals as espoused in the 2019/23 strategic plan, Prof Tlou pledged to work hand in hand with policy makers in making the university a better place for all.

She promised that as a proponent and believer in good governance, she would adhere to the BOU Act and associated statutes.

Prof. Tlou said she intended to be a BOU ambassador and spokesperson as well as to promote goodwill and endeavour to mobilise resources for it.

“I shall preside over ceremonial assemblies, confer awards of the university and perform any other functions and powers as described in the act,” she said.

Describing her appointment as historic because she was the first woman to hold such a position, Prof Tlou assured BOU women that they were represented in the upper echelons of one of Botswana’s  institutions of higher learning.ENDS