Faculty of Business hosts sponsors to breakfast

SponsorsThe University of Botswana hosted a Sponsor Appreciation Breakfast on March 9, 2018 at the UB Stadium VIP Lounge to appreciate companies which supported the Faculty of Business’ 4th Biennial International Business Conference on Innovation and Growth held at Chobe Marina Lodge in Kasane on July 11-13, 2017.

Institutions and individuals, including the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Barclays Bank of Botswana, Debswana Diamond Company, Engen Marketing Botswana, Choppies, Namibian Breweries, Collective Brands, DHL, and Professor Michael Diamonds of the University of Southern California pledged over P200, 000 in cash and kind towards the conference, held under the theme Sustainable Business Growth - The Key to transforming and Growing Economies.

During the breakfast, the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris pointed out that the University of Botswana exists to serve Batswana by solving challenges, such as those informed by industry. He said such interactions are also one way of seeking challenges that the University may address in collaboration with industry to create positive societal impact. He appealed to companies to take-in student interns so that they experience the work environment during their holidays, or by sponsoring University-based centres of excellence in various areas.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Mr Keletsositse Olebile, said that companies stand to benefit greatly through collaborations with the University of Botswana.

Breakfast“For the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, with our challenging mandate of promoting this country, … as well as upholding the nation brand, we wouldn’t hesitate when we were asked to sponsor the global conference because we knew that every international delegate who was coming to the conference will really have to embrace the message about Botswana and thereafter become our Ambassador in terms of saying the good things which they have picked about our country. … But beyond that, we also have various other ways … we are already collaborating with the institution.”

He said they were working “hand in glove” with the UB’s Office of International Education and Partnerships to educate international exchange students to appreciate the country and its “brand messages” so that when they finish their programmes they can become ambassadors of Botswana.

In addition, Mr Olebile disclosed that BITC will be signing a memorandum of understanding with UB, particularly through the Department of Marketing, to develop a curriculum in line with their export promotion mandate, to ensure that Botswana companies are taught to be export ready.

The Kasane conference brought together academics, entrepreneurs, and practitioners from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Botswana to discuss the challenges of attracting, establishing and managing businesses in an increasingly globalised world, and to stimulate thinking in the adoption of new information technologies that present new market opportunities and innovative ways of increasing business performance as well as creating value for customers, shareholders and other stakeholders.

The International Conference on Innovation and Growth also engaged in discussions about contemporary strategies, reforms and renewal of managerial practices in an effort to enhance African integration, and explored new networks and strategic alliances for development of managerial practice within Africa and between the continents.

According to Conference Chairman, Mr Rebana Mmereki, who is also Head of the Department of Management in the Faculty of Business, the conference provided a platform for discussing recent developments in a wide variety of topics including Management & Organization, Finance, Accounting & Taxation, Marketing, Tourism & Hospitality and Events Management, Information Technology & Innovation, Globalisation and Economic Sustainability, Knowledge Management and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics and Business Education and Sustainability.

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