As the world incessantly migrates to the fourth industrial revolution and requires people to be innovative and think on their feet, Ba Isago has secured a partnership in an attempt to deliver the now called ‘Design Thinking’, a programme brought by These Hands. Design Thinking is an International phenomenon to business ideation and is a non-linear, iterative approach used by Teams or Communities to tackle challenges, redefine problems and devise innovative solutions for testing and prototyping.
These Hands a global social enterprise start up based in Botswana for 13 years, is an institution that aims to foster local innovation and support entrepreneurship in rural communities of the developing world.
Speaking at the launch of the partnership launch yesterday, Goitsemodimo Onneetse stated that as These Hands they found it paramount to get into an alliance with Ba Isago as they want to teach students about Design Thinking while still schooling.
“We are pleased of this collaboration with Ba Isago university for our core creative design technology that we use to create lives around the country. We want to assist not only Batswana as in the elite but Batswana all from our grassroots communities and now students,” Onneetse said.
Onneetse highlighted that they hold a firm believe that design thinking is the next thing that can change peoples’ lives.
“It is really crucial to understand what design thinking is and how they can utilize design thinking to create their own solutions to their life problems and today I am very excited to witness this event come up after a very long talks to see Ba Isago take up this initiative,” she said.
She stated that These Hands in partnership with Ba Isago will roll out the design thinking programme for at least a month and two weeks where students will be assisted in creating and developing their ideas.
“In the programme we will start with ideation, then we say to you ok fine you are thinking of this idea you are trying to establish, then we go to the community for feedback. After that you come back, you prioritize what the community says,” she said.
For those who will not have an idea where to start, Onneetse described that there will be an incubation period for those students.
Acting vice president of Ba Isago Dr Oscar Chwira labelled the partnership as a great addition to the university.
“This is really a great development in our school and I am pleased we are the second university to do so. I believe this will be the right thing for our students and equip them with design thinking skills and knowledge,” he said.
