Maele early this week toured the university's laboratories, innovation hubs, classrooms and other facilities, where he was introduced to various academic programmes, practical learning initiatives and technological innovations being undertaken by students and staff. Speaking after the tour and presentations, Maele said Botho University stands out among the institutions he has visited since assuming office. "This is our 16th institution to visit, and I can tell you that you have made my day today because I am seeing what we call a university. Looking at the infrastructure and equipment that Botho University has, I am comfortable that we are getting value for money," he said. Maele said one of his priorities has been to build closer relations with private Education and Training Providers (ETPs), noting that there had previously been a disconnect between the Ministry and private institutions. "Private ETPs were a bit aloof from the Ministry. For me, that was not a healthy situation. I want to see where we spend our money and whether we are getting value for that investment," he said. The Minister said the government currently sponsors thousands of students across both public and private institutions, making it critical to assess the return on investment. At Botho University alone, the government sponsors over 2,500 students. Maele said higher education remains central to the government's efforts to address unemployment, particularly among young people.
"We are transforming higher education because we believe doing so will transform the lives of our young people. If we develop skills for this nation, we will have graduates who can go out there, start businesses, employ themselves and employ others," he said. He challenged institutions to ensure their graduates are industry-ready by working closely with employers in curriculum development. "The industry is telling us that some graduates are not industry-ready. We need institutions to work closely with industry so that graduates leave university with the skills employers need," he said. For her part, Botho University Vice Chancellor, Dr Sheela Raja Ram, said the institution's priorities are aligned with the government's goals of graduate employability, affordable quality education, innovation and entrepreneurship. She said Botho University, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, operates campuses in Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, while also serving students through its online campus.
