CEDA and DBSA to launch The University Challenge
Correspondent | Tuesday May 30, 2017 16:05
The event will also be graced by Senior Officials from Government, DBSA and Representatives from the Private Sector.
The CEDA/DBSA University Challenge is an outcome of the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI) 3rd Joint CEO Forum that was hosted by CEDA in November 2016.
The Challenge calls upon the youth of Botswana, specifically those enrolled in institutions of higher learning accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA), at all levels; Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Masters Degrees or Doctoral Programmes to come up with implementable solutions to issues affecting the country, namely in the areas of:
l Youth Employment,
l Employment Creation,
l Women Empowerment, and
l Poverty Eradication.
In taking up the Challenge, Vice President Masisi said that the government of Botswana continues a drive towards addressing these imperatives, and as a result is dependent upon the youth and scholars of Botswana to be change agents and develop real solutions that will help move the country forward and address national priorities.
The Challenge was offered by Chairman of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions, and the CEO of the DBSA, Patrick Dlamini, with an offer to pay out P100,000 to any student who could come up with an implementable solution to address any of the key issues facing Botswana.
He further offered P25,000 extra if a female came up with the solution.
In accepting the University Challenge by Dlamini, Botswana matched the offer of DBSA pula-for-Pula.
As a result, the winning solution would receive P200,000.
Further, in order to encourage cutting edge innovation amongst women, if the winning candidate is female, they would receive an extra P50,000, for a total of P250,000.
The University Challenge will focus amongst others on:
l Innovative fresh ideas,
l Implementable proposals that address problems faced by Botswana, and
l Proposals with a focus on adoption of new and emerging technologies.
Guidelines and Application Forms to the University Challenge will be made available to the public from June 1, 2017 following the launch.