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Chancellor Underscores Need for Cost Effective and Income Generation Measures

SeretseThe Chancellor, Ms Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, has advised the four incoming members of the university’s Executive Management Team (EMT) to help foster cost saving, resource efficiency and income generating measures to lessen the institution’s dependency on government.

Ms Seretse said this when welcoming them to the University of Botswana on January 24, 2023. The newly appointed members are Deputy Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Georges Ekosse, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, Chief Operations Officer, Mr Dawid Katzke and Chief Finance Officer, Mrs Peo Pillar.

Ms Seretse encouraged UB Management to venture into projects with the potential to give the University’s entrepreneurial endeavours impetus and stimulate economic activity besides cultivating a culture of problem solving at all levelsShe said with the vast expertise that UB was endowed with which was critical to the country’s economic development, it should, therefore, lead and guide the national discourse.

She emphasized the need to bring back the glory that UB was acclaimed for as a university that guided, informed and influenced opinions of ordinary citizens. The Chancellor further advised the University’s Management to consider expanding the curriculum while encouraging them to be more patriotic.

Meanwhile, Ms Seretse thanked the outgoing EMT members, Ms Motsei Rapelana – Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Student Affairs and Mr Lopang Mosupi – Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration, who were present, for their excellent service to the University and the country.

She said they were still pivotal to the growth and drive towards excellence both to the institution and the country. She thanked them for keeping the fire burning and serving the institution to the best of their abilities. 

On the other hand, Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, also thanked Professor Richard Tabulawa former Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, Ms Rapelana and Mr Mosupi for their excellent service.

Professor Norris advised the incoming ETM members to tap into Ms Seretse’s vast expertise and experience given her accomplishments and networks. He observed that they were TTcoming in at a time when the institution just celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Consequently, he said going beyond 40 years UB should strive to be different from that of the past 40 years, an institution that impacted society positively, an institution that lived up to the functions stipulated on the Act that founded it

Professor Norris observed that despite past achievements in the development of the country’s human resource capital, problem solving should be at the forefront. He highlighted two major projects, entailing the new strategy and the restructuring and transformation process, which he said were key to UB becoming impactful and engaged in society.

In pursuit of academic excellence