Speaking at the seventh graduation ceremony of BIUST that was held under the theme, 'Building a university of industries through a well-rounded ecosystem for economic transformation and innovative entrepreneurship', Totolo said economic transformation and innovation have become the buzzwords across the globe.
“Governments, organisations academia, and civil society see this as an answer to major societal challenges. BIUST has ensured innovative entrepreneurship as part of its core mandate.
The university has not only embraced this but enshrined it as its vision which states, 'To provide world-class research and innovation in science, engineering, and technology contributing to industry growth and development and advancement of a diversified knowledge-based economy,'” said Totolo.
Innovation, Totolo emphasised, is the focus of BIUST in promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation to not only encourage more innovations in the university but to encourage innovations that bring sustainable development. “To our graduates, with bachelor's and postgraduate degrees, you will have an acute sense of BIUST being at the forefront of research, innovation, and human development. These are imperatives that translate knowledge emanating from research and innovation into products and services that are relevant to our everyday needs,” he said.
Ketshephaone Jacob, the keynote speaker and CEO of The Bulb World, said that for decades, entrepreneurship has been identified as the critical change agent in socio-economic development.
He added that some countries have been a lot more successful in promoting entrepreneurship. “It is only in the last decade that our government has put in place measures towards its citizen entrepreneurs and this is where BIUST plays an integral role in terms of the provision of the much-needed manpower but also a provider and stimulant of innovative solutions needed for today's smart manufacturing,” Jacob said.
During the ceremony, 298 students graduated. To date, BIUST has produced well over 3,000 rounded graduates from across frontiers locally, regionally, and globally. Aubrey Lesaso, the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, commended BIUST for the strides it made amid difficult conditions the COVID-19 pandemic imposed with potentially devastating impacts on the learning of students.
“Some of the challenges experienced during this period include but are not limited to having to change the learning space you were accustomed to; and studying remotely without adequate preparations and limited resources.
Despite all these challenges, you remained resilient, focused, and determined to achieve your goals. For this, I commend and congratulate you,” Lesaso said. He added that government is committed to ensuring, “Botswana society will be knowledgeable with the relevant quality education that is outcome based with an emphasis on technical and vocational skills as well as academic competencies; that is, education with production."
