News

…Highlights Role of Women in Design, Innovation and Economic Development

The 2025 University of Botswana (UB) Degree Show delivered a powerful statement on the future of design and innovation in Botswana, firmly challenging the status quo on empowerment of young graduates particularly women in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Held annually by the Department of Industrial Design and Technology, the Degree Show has grown to become a premier platform for final-year students to showcase their research, creativity and commercially viable solutions. This year’s edition was particularly significant as it was premised on empowering women in Design, a bold stance that underscores that design and construction industries are spaces where women belong, contribute meaningfully and must be seen.

 Welcoming guests at the ceremony Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, used the occasion to call for transformative reforms in how institutions, industry, and society support emerging talent.

“Our young people are very, very talented,” said Prof. Norris. “But we have failed to create an environment where they can thrive through their creativity and innovation.”

Professor Norris also reaffirmed UB’s commitment to strengthening a comprehensive research and innovation ecosystem, spanning from blue-sky research to prototype development and eventual commercialisation. He urged universities across the region to position themselves as drivers of economic growth through strategic partnerships with industry.

A total of 30 student projects were showcased, covering diverse areas such as interior design, product innovation and sustainable building technologies. The work on display not only reflected sound academic grounding but also demonstrated the power of design thinking in solving real-world challenges and contributing to national development.

A distinctive feature of this year’s show was Video testimonials that provided an intimate glimpse into the journeys of female students who defied stereotypes and carved out spaces for themselves in technology and design fields that had historically sidelined women.

Guest speakers, Ms Nomsa Moyo, founder of Sasa Interior and Ms Thandi Leineweber, founder of Phoenix Style Ambassadors, shared their experiences as pioneering women entrepreneurs in design. Both emphasised the need for resilience, mentorship and inclusive education as critical factors in helping young women take their place in the industry.

“This is our space too,” said one female graduate in a featured testimonial. “We are not guests here we are builders, creators, innovators. And we are ready.”

The 2025 Degree Show has once again proven to be more than a student exhibition. It was a call to action for academia, industry and government to invest in the creative potential of Botswana’s youth and to ensure that women are not only included but champion the journey towards a more innovative and equitable future.