Africa-Press – Lesotho. Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) was established as one of the key drivers to transform Botswana through among others, research, science, technology and innovation, Minister for State President Mr Kabo Morwaeng has said.
He said relative to other players, this undoubtedly was BIUST niche in its many and varied contributions to industry growth and development. Minister Morwaeng was speaking at an inaugural Vision 2036 public lecture at BIUST in Palapye on Thursday.
The public lecturer was held under the theme: The Case of BIUST: Transitional National Development Plan (TNDP) Contribution Towards Innovation and Digital Transformation.
Mr Morwaeng said the theme recognised the role of BIUST in the delivery of the national roadmap/vision ideals, through innovation and digital transformation, which challenged the university to accelerate its efforts in research, innovation and creativity to contribute towards the attainment of TNDP, in particular.
The lecture was a precursor to the Vision 2036 commemoration scheduled for Thursday in Charleshill. Mr Morwaeng therefore said it was the right decision that BIUST partnered with the National Commission on the historic endeavor.
He emphasised that if the country was to achieve desired transformation and value addition, the national roadmap through quality research and development and ultimately innovation for high quality and competitive goods and services, then BIUST, was the best shot.
He said to attain the above, the university and its ecosystem in the innovation and tech space, required the right mindset, hence President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s clarion call for mindset change.
Mr Morwaeng said the TNDP had identified innovation and digital transformational, among its eight key policy priorities. “This is really the link between today’s theme and the plan,” he said.
He said the plan highlighted that Botswana should catch up with the rest of the world to achieve rapid innovation, creativity and digitization as ingredients to drive transformation hence the public lecture.
He said for the nation to attain a high income status with a diversified economy that was export-led and knowledge based, the hopes were heavily hinged on BIUST as a science and technology university.
“I recognise BIUST’s achievements in having produced industrious students who have demonstrated resilience in their work. Your footprints are beginning to be felt globally as demonstrated by some of your students,” he said.
He acknowledged BIUST’s computer and software engineering fifth year student, Mr Bongani Khulumo, a trainee at Volvo cars in Sweden, Ms Nancy Ramokhua, a coal gasification expert and the first woman to hold a PhD in Chemical Engineering, and Ms Thandie Bonno, a second year Civil and Environmental Engineering student who has been awarded Miracle Corners of the World Youth Leaders Program Fellowship Award.
The minister said that the list of luminaries must continue to grow exponentially. He emphasised the importance of a progressive mindset and appealed to all to lock their minds on positivity and progress.
BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo said BIUST had joined hands to propel the country’s growth and development through research, innovation and technology and had developed a culture where highly qualified researchers, lecturers and students focused on solving societal challenges because they had been given the responsibility to bring solutions to industry and societal challenges.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the way of life in more ways than one could imagine and had pushed all to leverage more on technology and push the country’s drive to digital transformation.
“As a Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) institution, BIUST has embarked on various research projects to deliver real life scientific solutions and innovations to this country especially in this challenging era of job creation and the 4th Industrial Revolution,” said Professor Totolo.
He said over a decade, BIUST had garnered global recognition through development of a strong academic value chain, comprising of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and engagement for development.
He acknowledged and commended the National Planning Commission Committee and the BIUST team for reflecting on their role in the implementation of the national vision.
For his part, Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi encouraged all to own vision 2036. He said vision was not a new thing because it was also written in the bible in the book of Habakkuk chapter two verse two and Proverbs 29 verse 18.
He urged all to own, live, preach and implement Vision 2036. He said climate change affected farmers and there was a need for technology to help them improve food production. He said BIUST was ahead in driving change.
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