02 Aug 2023

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development on August 1 launched the country’s first Research Information Management System (RIMS) which will manage and showcase research conducted nationally. 

Speaking at the launch, education and skills development minister, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe said the system would help to increase visibility of national research efforts and outputs resulting in improved prospects of sustainable research collaborations and funding. 

“Generation of real-time indicators on the type of research conducted, the personnel involved, equipment used and the outputs thereof will be accessible to a wider stakeholder base as reliable and timely information crucial for evidence-based decision making that leverages research findings,” he said. 

RIMS was a living demonstration of government’s commitment to build a knowledge driven society by harnessing the power of research information, he said. 

Also at the same event, communications, knowledge and Technology minister, Mr Thulagano Segokgo launched the Month of Science. 

Minister Segokgo said science had the power to transform economies and shape societies as it promoted a culture of critical thinking, which was required for problem solving. 

He said codification of knowledge to facilitate easy access was a major priority hence the launch of RIMS, strategies and programms aimed at addressing the gap in valuation and commercialisation of knowledge generated from research. 

For his part, Mayor of Gaborone, Mr Austin Abraham urged all Batswana to embark on the journey of economic improvement and change to build a better future for the nation. Ends