Professor Bojosi Otlhogile bids farewell to UB

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Thursday March 31, 2011 00:00

Speaking at his farewell party at the UB's new student center, he said he could not have wished to live the past 29 years any other way and given a chance he would do it again with slight changes. He said that the university has grown a lot from the time he joined when departmental board minutes were produced on typewriters, stencil and indelible ink and chicken livers and gizzards were sold at the administration block.

'I recall with fondness the great debates over whether UB should introduce email. Today UB is a different place, a mature or maturing institution. We have worked tirelessly, individually and collectively to make UB what it is today.

We have aspirations of making it an institution of great repute and research intensive,' he said adding that one achievement is the newly established School of Medicine.  Addressing the staff, he said they have been lucky that supportive council members have over the years provided the necessary leadership and vision yet left room for management to run the institution. 'The government has in many respects been supportive of UB by providing both recurrent and capital budget. I thank past and present Ministers of Education for this support,' he said.

Otlhogile said not everything has been rosy. 'I know I presided over some very controversial projects over the years. The policy on political activities on university campuses, parking and Performance Management System.

Policy on political activity and PMS were deemed to undermine academic freedom. Well, the jury is still out especially on the merits or demerits of PMS,' he said. He pointed out that challenges still lie ahead as the higher education landscape has completely changed. 'We are no longer the only player in this field though I must admit UB remains by far the dominant force and player. It is up to us to lose this lead,' he said.

The Professor further said there are a few challenges that UB must confront if they are to retain their status as the leaders of higher education in the country and the region. 'First we must strive to attract, retain and reward the best human resource there is. I hope we will be able to find consensus around the ongoing remuneration exercise.

Failure to reach a consensus will lead to the loss of even the few good scholars we have today,' he said. He appealed to government to reconsider its stand on immigration issues with respect to UB as more than any other sector it relies significantly on international labour. He said UB must be protected in any change in the immigration system as any adverse changes affecting the mobility of international scholars will negatively affect higher education and the consequences will also be felt in the economy.

'Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. The duty to defend the institution and its reputation is not a matter for the VC alone. We all have a role to play. Yet we are quick to throw the first stone. Matters that one may consider internal institutional issues are often floated on front pages of the media with reckless abandon. Nothing is sacred anymore,' he said.  Today is his last day and he will be passing the baton to Professor Thabo Fako who assumes duty tomorrow.