News

University of Botswana (UB) and Botswana Harvard Partnership (BHP) formerly known as the Botswana Harvard Health Partnership are at an advanced stage of sealing a partnership to enhance the two institution’s collaborative efforts in various public health research projects.

The collaboration will see BHP and UB work together to explore HIV/AIDS research, biological sciences and medicine and health sciences. Further, the partnership will leverage UB’s already existing computing infrastructure including servers for big data analytics and storage. The partnership will also bridge the research funding gap through collaborative work as well as maximization of available resources from both institutions to aid scientific work.

Welcoming the BHP delegation, Vice Chancellor, Professor Norris, briefed them on UB’s initiatives to improve its research capacity and output. The Vice Chancellor noted the recently introduced tuition waivers for deserving PhD students as one such gesture geared towards promoting a research intensive and innovation culture within the University. He stated that UB welcomed any partnerships in its quest to push for research funding hence would explore any available avenue to that effect.

Professor Norris further called on the two research institutions to further collaborate in addressing public health challenges. He stressed that through policy formulation and shaping discourse, the two institutions could assist government in resolving procurement shortfalls, HIV treatment and other challenges.

Meanwhile, BHP Board Chairperson, Professor Roger Shapiro, said despite global financial constraints BHP was ready to work with UB. Professor Shapiro noted the need to explore how BHP could become an independent research institute working alongside partners such as UB.

He suggested the introduction of PhDs programmes across the two institutions and that once formally legalised, the partnership would allow for dual training of scientists. It emerged during the meeting that strong collaborative partnerships were essential to mitigate public health threats and provide data-driven solutions.

Meanwhile, the BHP delegation comprised the Board Chairperson, Professor Roger Shapiro; Executive Director, Dr Gaerolwe Masheto; Scientific Director, Professor Sikhulile Moyo.

On the other hand, from UB the Vice Chancellor was accompanied by Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire and Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Ishmael Kasvosve.