A delegation led by the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Dr Peter Sebina paid a courtesy call on the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) of the Ministry of Development Planning in Maseru, Lesotho on February 24, 2018. The purpose was to promote UB programmes and encourage the authority to sponsor more students to study at the University of Botswana.
Other members of the delegation included a Marketing Lecturer in the Faculty of Business, Ms.Tshepo Maswabi; Assistant Manager at the Office of International Education & Partnerships, Mr Tebogo Magetse; Department of Academic Services Acting Assistant Director (Recruitment), Mr Meshack Mogodu; and Department of Public Affairs Deputy Director, Mr Tefo Mangope. The delegation was part of a group from UB which participated at the Fourth Higher Education Fair on February 23 – 24, 2018.
The Fair served to provide information to prospective tertiary students about higher education institutions in Lesotho and in the SADC region, as well as avail a platform for the institutions to showcase their programmes and work. The fair also gave financiers of tertiary students, such as NMDS, a platform to provide career guidance to the prospective tertiary students with a specific focus on career paths that are within the priorities of the Government of Lesotho.
Presently, there are 59 Lesotho students of the over 450 international full time students studying at UB. Of the 59, 39 are undergraduate; 19 Masters and one PhD. Fourteen (14) of these are enrolled in the Faculty of Business, three (3) in Education, four (4) in Faculty of Engineering and Technology. The Faculties of Health Sciences and Humanities each has six (6) students, Faculty of Science four (4), Social Sciences two (2) students, and the rest are at the School of Graduate Studies.
Addressing the NMDS representatives, Dr Sebina impressed on the need to strengthen the already cordial relationship between the two countries as well as bolster the historic BOLESWA partnership through “… progressive development of (academic) programmes on both sides”. He further presented to the NMDS new programmes that were on offer at UB and provided information about application processes and cut-off points for new students.
Speaking on behalf of NMDS, the Deputy Director at the Secretariat Mr Thabo Ntoi stated that the visit could not have come at a better time when the Secretariat was in the process of compiling an updated list of programmes to be sponsored at the University of Botswana. He noted that the courtersy call had been helpful in that it facilitated the opportunity “to speak and relate in person.” He conveyed sincere appreciation, on behalf of his team, for elaborate discussions on admission requirements and other academic programmes offered by UB. He pointed out that Medicine was “…a priority in building human capital” in Lesotho.