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In its drive to remain a distinctive centre of academic excellence, the University of Botswana (UB) in collaboration with two Russian Universities are billed to establish a Russian Language Center. The centre has targeted 300 participants as its first cohort slated for early September 2023.

This was revealed during a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between the University of Botswana, Perm State Humanitarian Pedagogical University (PSHPU) and BioTech University, respectively. Representing PSHPU was the Rector, Dr Konstantin Egorov and his counterpart, Head of International Department, Dr Anastasya Vertyanova, while Head of the Department for International Cooperation, Dr Pavel Gultiaev stood in for BioTech University.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on the roadmap for the centre, Dr Vertyanova said the first pilot would have a total of 300 students, on completion, some students would be selected to continue into the next phase. She added that certificates of participation would be awarded which would transition to more academic certificates.

Consequently, through the center participants will learn how to read, count, and speak in Russian to be executed via an introductory course offered by Russian instructors from the two institutions. To this effect, increasing chances of attaining yearly scholarships offered by the Russian government. Lessons will commence physically and continue online.

Moreover, UB and PSHPU, on the framework of the signed MOU will also embark on joint development and methodological support of programmes for the adaptation of students from Botswana entering higher educational institutions in Russian.

The MoU further allows the two parties to conduct seminars, master classes, advanced training courses on the modernisation of the content and technologies of education for their employees. They will also cooperate in research projects, including but not limited to conducting scientific research on the development of education systems in Botswana and Russia.

“As a first step, we are offering to launch a Centre for Open Education in your University, we will launch the centre in partnership with BioTech University,” pointed out Dr Vertyanova. She further highlighted that the centre would deal with education programmes for children and adults, citing that the undertaking would strengthen relations between Russia and Botswana.

Meanwhile, UB and BioTech’s collaboration will be aimed at exploring research development programmes in the fields of food sciences, joint research on agreed priority areas, staff, and student exchanges, among others.

In his input, Dr Gultiaev alluded to the possibility of establishing a joint food security centre to address food security issues in both countries, adding that they were at an advanced stage hence UB and Botswana could benefit immensely from their technological expertise.

“Food security is crucial, not only in Botswana but the African region, therefore there is a need to possess food processing technologies,” emphasised Dr Gultiaev.

Commenting on the significance of the MoU’s, UB’s Vice Chancellor Professor David Norris, said the University’s transformation agenda spoke to societal impact by the University. Therefore, he noted that acquiring strategic partners remained key to the University. He observed that both PSHPU and BioTech University would be instrumental in catapulting research and innovation that was aligned with the developmental imperatives of the society.