Nine students, among them seven Batswana and one Namibian and an Angolan, have received scholarships to study for a new master’s programme, the Master of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (SASSCAL Task 303) which the University of Botswana launched in Gaborone on June 12, 2018.
The programme is a collaboration between the University of Botswana, University of Zambia, Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa and Namibia University of Science and Technology. The four universities entered into the agreement in 2015 as part of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL).
The nine students, together with 10 others, will begin their two-year MSc Geospatial Science programme in August this year. The programme is a collaborative degree in earth observation, Global Information System (GIS) and remote sensing. It is designed as an inter-disciplinary programme for students with diverse natural sciences and social sciences backgrounds who desire specialized training in the use of remote sensing and GIS and within the framework of contemporary national and international research projects.
Graduates of the programme can apply techniques and skills in different areas such as geo-information technology, earth observation and remote sensing, photogrammetry, environmental science, spatial planning, and in more specific areas such as urban and land use planning, hydrologic resources, environmental analysis and management, transport review and planning.
The training received in both vocational and research skills will place graduates in a position to undertake further postgraduate (PhD) study or seek employment in business, government and non-governmental organisations. Further, the two-year programme will be complemented by a variety of postgraduate diplomas and certificates to cater for continued professional development and capacity building.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor David Sebudubudu, said the new programme was adding to the University of Botswana menu of collaboration programmes with other like-minded universities around the world.
Professor Sebudubudu reiterated that the new programme would add to the university’s plan of improving and expanding student access especially at graduate level. It would also help in UB’s internationalization programme particularly that it promoted students and staff exchanges, he added.
Professor Sebudubudu also encouraged the recipients of the scholarships to utilize them fully and ensure that they graduated because it would help offset the scarcity of geospatial science skills.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Julius Atlhopheng, said of Batswana students who had enrolled for the programme, seven were SASSCAL sponsored while five were government sponsored and the rest self-sponsored.
Professor Atlhopheng said Botswana should use science to drive change and break new ground in pursuit of its socio-economic development agenda. Besides, he said given Botswana’s tourism development process and lack of skills in geospatial science, graduates in this area would be an invaluable resource to the country.