News

The University of Botswana (UB) and the Embassy of Ukraine have formalised a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Ukrainian Centre at UB. Signed on 28th of August 2025, the agreement paves the way for strengthened academic collaboration, enriched cultural exchange, and deeper global engagement.

Speaking at the event, UB Acting Vice Chancellor, Mr. Dawid Katzke, underscored the Centre’s role in fostering scholarly dialogue on Ukraine-related topics, advancing UB’s internationalisation agenda as well as creating new opportunities for students and faculty to engage in global discourse. Mr  Katzke highlighted key areas of cooperation such as academic collaboration, research engagement, resource access, student development and public diplomacy.

Ukraine Ambassador to Botswana, His Excellency Dr Oleksiy Syvak, described the agreement as a new chapter in the cultural and economic relations between the two institutions. Dr Syvak noted that the Centre would position UB as a bridge between Africa and Europe, aligning with Botswana’s Vision 2036, African Union’s Agenda 2063 and Ukraine’s own reform journey.

Furthermore, Dr. Syvak announced the donation of a collection of Ukrainian books to UB, an initiative spearheaded by the First Lady of Ukraine. The collection, which spans literature, history, and contemporary thought, will form part of the Ukrainian Centre’s resources and serve as a gateway to Ukraine’s intellectual and cultural heritage.

For her part, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire, praised the swift and collaborative efforts that led to the signing and emphasisd the Centre’s relevance to UB’s strategic goals particularly its focus on impactful engagement and the transition towards a knowledge-based economy. She expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations and the operationalisation of the Centre, noting the strong interest from UB academics in engaging with the Ukrainian Institute.