07 Sep 2026

University of Botswana (UB) and Destination Imagination (DI) have collaborated through a P1.2 billion job-creation fund by signing Memorandum of Understanding to train 10 000 young Batswana in technology skills. 

The six-month programme will offer training in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data hygiene and artificial intelligence (AI). It will also cover soft skills, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. 

The targeted programmes are said to be among the areas facing skills shortage.

DI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Sally Kimangu, said the initiative would involve partnerships with technology companies such as AWS, IBM, Google and Microsoft, as well as government ministries responsible for labour, youth and higher education. She said the programme was aimed at improving the employability of young people while also equipping them with skills to create employment opportunities.

Ms Kimangu said there was a global shortage of cybersecurity skills, estimated at about five million workers.

The partnership comes as UB seeks to strengthen the transition of graduates from higher education into employment.

Director of Student Life and Experience, Dr Barbra Pansiri said the university’s Career Development Unit was established to prepare students for the workplace. 

She said many graduates still struggled to secure employment despite completing university programmes.

Dr Pansiri said partnerships with industries and other stakeholders were necessary to help address the employment gap.

Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Teaching and Learning, Professor Maria Nnyepi said the success of the MoU would depend on its implementation.

She said UB had signed numerous agreements in the past that had not produced tangible results.

Prof. Nnyepi said the latest partnership should be measured by its impact on the curriculum and the careers of graduates.

Meanwhile, Absa Bank representative, Mr Dennis Mambure said the bank was increasingly placing emphasis on competencies when recruiting graduates. 

He said Absa employed UB graduates and ran paid internship programmes and had observed gaps in some applicants’ practical skills.

Mr Mambure said critical thinking and adaptability were becoming increasingly important in recruitment, alongside academic qualifications. ends