BIUST Hosts Inaugural Graduation Ceremony
Lindiwe Mozola | Monday February 20, 2017 15:48
President Ian Khama and former President and also BIUST Chancellor, Festus Mogae graced the historical ceremony.
Among the graduates were seven masters and 51 bachelor’s degrees in various science disciplines.
Mwanza Masuyo dominated the awards scooping the Chancellor’s award as the best overall student and best student in a multidisciplinary programme. Masuyo, a Zambian national, was graduating for Bachelor of Applied Sciences where he got First Class.
Best student in the Earth and Environmental Science award went to Segametsi Sono while Oratile Ramaribana won the best student in Mathematics and Statistical Sciences.
According to BIUST Vice Chancellor, Proffesor Otlogetswe Totolo the ceremony was to have coincided with Botswana’s 50 years of Independence, hence it is part of national BOT50 festivities.
He applauded the Government for continuing to invest in higher education particularly in science, engineering and technology saying that ushers in a phase of rapid national development. He acknowledged the achievements of the first graduants.
Meanwhile, Totolo revealed that amongst the seven masters students graduates, one of them (Stevens Morlu who graduated in Analytical Chemistry) was an international student, who was sponsored by the Government of Botswana through bilateral agreement between Botswana and Liberia.
“We foresee that internationalisation of education in all its ramifications at BIUST will be enhanced in the next plan period. This graduation ceremony represents a significant milestone for the University, the graduants, as well as for lower level students who will be enthused to work harder and focus on their studies so as to excel,” Totolo said.
Futhermore, Totolo said that when the first cohorts of students joined the University in 2012 at Oodi campus, they entered into a pact to be transformed into tomorrow’s leaders in industry and society.
He said because of that, the Univeristy’s responsibility was to offer and deliver relevant, innovative, quality research intensive education of international standard while students were to embrace the learning opportunities that the University provided.
He added that the graduation ceremony was a clear demostration that both the university and the graduates had successfully accomplished what was jointly desired.
“Moreover, the graduants have displayed acceptable conduct and are therefore licensed to carry the symbol of BIUST wherever they go. We are committed to driving change hence our University must become the leader of change and the home for leaders and leadership development. In order to do so, we need to draw on the expertise, energy and enthusiasm of our graduates to propagate this vision,” he said.
Totolo told the graduates that their future success beyond the borders of BIUST would ensure that it is at the forefront of leading national scientific and technological change. He described them as the future leaders in their respective professions, community, the country and the world.
He said though the graduates would now be emerging into the broader world, they must never forget that they still remain members of the BIUST family and they would shortly be invited to join the University Alumni. He added that as BIUST they wish to be part of the student’s success in the same way they would expect them to maintain connectivity with the University.
Totolo urged the graduates to continue learning saying that learning does not begin nor end with a University education. He said graduation itself is not a singular event but a lifelong learning process that happens from cradle to grave. On his part the Chancellor of BIUST, Mogae commended the staff of the University and the student community for making BIUST an inspiring place of academic distinction. He said the graduates came into the University armed with an inquiring mind and a willingness to learn.
“Graduates ought to be proud of themselves for having achieved BIUST certificates. Very good professors have given you a very good education and you must count your blessings for that.
As you prepare to leave BIUST, I would like you to remember what we have done for you to be here today graduating, what has been given to you by those close to you and your nations and that it is vital that you serve your nation and the world with your knowledge and skills,” Mogae said.