26 Feb 2014

The British Council has brought 19 United Kingdom (UK) universities, to Botswana, to give Batswana the opportunity to make informed choices about education opportunities in that country.

The 19 universities are here to showcase what their universities offer at a two-day Education UK Expo which began on Tuesday.

Speaking in an interview, the Education UK Expo manager and also British Council examinations officer, Ms Avanthi Gotru, said it was the first time for the British Council to host an education expo of this magnitude. The council, she said, intended to continue holding the event annually.

Ms Gotru said the main purpose of the expo was to provide a platform for young citizens to chat and have firsthand information about the courses offered by various UK universities as well as the relevant qualifications required for admission into such institutions.

“The expo is targeted at form 5 students, first year students and also post graduate students as well as the working class- who still want to further their studies,” she said.

“We intend to hold the expo annually, as one of our key mandate, since the event also offers an opportunity for cultural relations between the two countries,” she said.

Education UK, Ms Gotru said recognised the significance of quality and relevance to demands, particularly in today’s globalised world where internationalisation of education was more important than ever before. Therefore, she said was why it offered a wide range for continuous education at all levels.

The expo has been organised by the British Council to show its committed to supporting Botswana’s Vision 2016 Pillars of an “Educated and Informed Nation and a Prosperous, Productive and Innovative Nation.”

The invited universities are; City University, Newcastle University, University of Salford, University of South Wales, Broadway Education, The Manchester College, The University of Northampton, University College London, Ruthin School, Sheffield Hallam University, Edinburgh College, University of the West of England, Pearson, University of Surrey, University of Exeter, Coventry University, university of Leeds and Swansea University. ENDS