News

UniPod Botswana in conjunction with Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub are set to launch the first-ever home-grown Virtual Reality technology in the country.

The new technology is set to be launched by the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Hon Lesego Chombo, on the 16th of April 2026 at the University of Botswana where the UniPod is located.

According to UniPod Director, Professor Richie Moalosi, Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4IR) technologies which can simulate a real environment within a computer. However, what is quite unique about this project is that it is the first home grown VR experience.

“The project which we are launching tomorrow is a simulation of the UniPod where one can actually go through all the labs within the UniPod in a computer and see what is happening in each lab without actually going through it physically,” said Professor Moalosi.

Professor Moalosi highlighted that the simulation ensures that anyone, anywhere can go into the computer for a virtual experience of the UniPod labs or facility. Professor Moalosi stressed that such experience opened a new scope where individuals did not have to go to a place physical to understand how it operated.

He further said VR technology could be used to simulate museums with virtual tours and that was where the scope of entrepreneurship would be promoted. He added that Botswana should not be left out as a country as that was where the world was going.

 “We want to be competing not to be followers within the space,” he said.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the project was made successful courtesy of the expertise of collaboration with Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub who explored partnerships with UB indicating their capacity in developing similar projects.

Consequently, according to Professor Moalosi the collaboration came in handy. He noted that the project was simplified  by the signing of a Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) entailing training of developers and students alongside creating technological solutions.

Furthermore, the UniPod Director, indicated that they would be willing to tap more into the Mafikeng Digital Innovation Hub expertise to create more of these projects.

Meanwhile, prior to the much-anticipated launch, the Botswana College of Engineering and Technology (BCET) students appreciated the VR and were encouraged to harness its benefits to advance their studies and careers beyond their tertiary training.