28 Nov 2013

The Limkokwing University of Creativity and Technology (LUCT) has unveiled yet another batch of sponsorships awarded to local media houses.

Speaking during the university’s fifth annual media reception, deputy permanent secretary responsible for media  in the Office of the President, Mr Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo commended the university for having included the private media as beneficiaries of the scholarship programme. “This will no doubt enrich and grow the competency of the wider media fraternity in the economy of Botswana,” he said.

He said the value of a tertiary education was measured by amongst others the impact that its graduates have on the country’s economy as well as improvement of the graduates’ livelihoods. Mr Kaboeamodimo said harmonisation of training platforms and industry requirements was key to economic development, “because it is only in working together that the gap is closed that would otherwise exist where education and training is done at institutions without any link to the world of work.”

“As I come from Information and Broadcasting Services of government where we do engage many of the graduates of this university especially on the broadcasting side, I can attest to the value of its education,” he said.

He said it was in this context that government broadcasting services and Limkokwing University found it fit not only to collaborate in practice, but to formalise the partnership. Mr Kaboeamodimo said the outcome of the partnership was the generous scholarship programmes that Limkokwing University has offered, with which “we continue to up-skill some of the employees in various professional disciplines.”

For his part, Limkokwing vice president - academic affairs, Dr Raphael Dingalo said the university believed in the concept of ‘indusity’, which he referred to as “the word coined from Industry and University”. Dr Dingalo said already there were graduates from the university who were performing well in the industry, with some already received awards from the recent MISA awards.

He said they were proud of Limkokwing products and their contribution towards the socio economic space in the country. Dr Dingalo also noted that the university has introduced the Limkokwing Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (LEAP), to give students an opportunity to have hands-on experience in the industry. 

Limkokwing regional director of Corporate Affairs, Ms Mercy Thebe, noted that this year LUCT would sponsor eight private media houses with eight degree scholarships at P800 000 as well as the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) with five degree scholarships worth P 500 000 for the 2014/2015 academic year.

She highlighted that this was an increase from the four scholarships awarded to DBS in 2011 and three to Yarona FM earlier this year. Ms Thebe revealed that the seven private media houses to benefit are; The Voice, The Echo, Weekend Post, Mmegi, The Monitor newspapers and The Patriot newspapers and eBotswana television station. ENDS