07 Aug 2023

Malaka recently hosted students and lecturers from Duale Hochschule Baden Württemberg (DHBW) in Lörrach, Germany who chose Malaka Trust as a case study in their tourism curriculum.

The visit, which included 16 students and four lecturers is a result of the partnership between DHBW and Botho University. The two universities have developed a Technology Integrated Module for Sustainable Tourism Education: Synergizing Expertise from Botswana and Germany.

Lecturer at Botho University Dr Tonderai Vumbunu said the collaboration aims to draw on the respective expertise of Botho University, Botswana and the DHBW to create joint, market relevant curricula content for sustainable tourism education.

He said the proposed module would become a regular part of the tourism curricula in both countries, using innovative digital technologies, and involving work on real-life Community Based Tourism (CBT) projects in Botswana and Germany.

He explained that the two universities were working on a community-based project and had used Malaka Trust as part of their case study.

The universities will empower the board members of Malaka Trust so that they can manage their trust in a better way and will also help them develop their trust, he said.

Prof. Wendy Fehlner from DHBW said Malaka Trust was worthy of support and that their historical site should be preserved. She said after their visit to the trust last year, they identified two funding opportunities that match the needs of Malaka Trust.

The students and the lecturers from DHBW got the opportunity to visit the old London Missionary Society Church at Old Palapye site and donated to Malaka Trust technical equipment worth P14 000 that includes a video camera, projector and laptop.

Speaking at the event, the District Commissioner for Palapye, Mr Mompati Ntapu, said Malaka had been fortunate enough to partner with the two esteemed Universities of Botho and DHBW, a corporate State University from Lorrach in Southwest Germany in the quest to develop and preserve archaeological monuments.

He expressed appreciation to the two universities for recognizing the significance of the historical treasures and for taking the initiative to collaborate with the Malaka community.

He said the partnership had brought about a renewed sense of identity and also paved the way for a brighter future for the archaeological heritage and sustainable tourism.

He thanked the two universities' administrations, faculties and students who have dedicated their time, expertise, and resources to this noble cause.

He said their unwavering commitment and passion for archaeology and tourism product development have been instrumental in the successful development and preservation of monuments. “Their tireless efforts in conducting research, organizing preservation methods and implementing conservation measures have undoubtedly contributed to the enrichment of our cultural heritage,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Botho University for their invaluable guidance and support throughout the partnership.

Mr Ntapu said their commitment to education and research would also contribute to the advancement of archaeological studies, tourism as a whole as well as economic advancement of the people.

Furthermore, he thanked the DHBW university students and was grateful for their active participation in the project as well as the cultural exchange opportunities created by their visit to Botswana.

“We believe that your coming here has presented an opportunity to see the fabric make up of us as a people. We are a peaceful nation, with rich and diverse cultural practices. We love humanity and we welcome visitors. We are a tourism destination of choice in the entire African Continent. You might be aware that a couple of days Botswana successfully hosted the 15th US Africa business Summit,” he said.

Mr Ntapu said communities such as Malaka that harness the economic value in the resources surrounding them would go a long way in helping the country in its quest for economic diversification and transformation. ends