News

Since 2013, students from the University of Botswana (UB) have been gaining hands-on business experience through a long-standing collaboration with Ohio University’s College of Business. The initiative, known as the Global Consultancy Programme (GCP), is coordinated by the Centre for International Business Education and Development (CIBED) at Ohio University.

The GCP is a two-week student consulting project in which participants serve as junior consultants, working alongside faculty mentors who act as senior consultants. Together, they engage with businesses in various host countries to solve real-world challenges.

Mr Thuso Mphela, a senior lecturer in UB’s Faculty of Business Management, explains that the programme is recognised as equivalent to a three-month internship which enables students to earn academic credit. Since its inception, approximately 70 UB students have participated in the programme, working in countries such as Botswana, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.

However, Mphela notes that participation is limited due to resource constraints and selection is highly competitive. The primary criterion for entry is a student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA), followed by a series of qualifying rounds.

In a recent courtesy visit to UB, a delegation from Ohio University met with Vice Chancellor Professor David Norris to explore further collaboration. Discussions included the potential introduction of a new initiative, the Visiting International Partner (VIP) programme which would allow UB students to travel to Ohio University for additional consulting experience and to help solve existing business problems.

Professor Norris welcomed the possibility, stating that such programmes were essential in addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in Botswana. He added that the initiative also aligned with UB’s mandate to produce industry-ready graduates who can contribute meaningfully to the economy.