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As an institution with the highest concentration of high calibre youth in the country, the University of Botswana (UB) has the responsibility to foster youth innovation and creativity to contribute to Botswana’s creation of a knowledge society and economy.

This was said by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Doreen Ramogola-Masire at a three-day Technology and Skills Transfer Makeathon Botswana which kicked off at the University of Botswana on the 24th of October 2023.

The theme of the Makeathon is ‘Developing Robotics Skills through Innovation and Creativity for a is Smart Economy’ which Professor Ramogola-Masire said was perfectly aligned with the University Botswana’s efforts to help tackle the problem of youth unemployment.

Hosting an event of this nature, was a true testament to the University of Botswana’s commitment to foster youth innovation and creativity to contribute to Botswana’s creation of a knowledge society and economy said Professor Ramogola - Masire.

Also, as part of this commitment, the University recently launched the UB Innovation Centre which has since engaged in several youth empowerment projects and initiatives. Above all, Professor Ramogola-Masire reiterated that the university of Botswana continued to pride itself as a beacon of knowledge, a hub of intellectual exploration as well as a catalyst for societal change.

She encouraged the participants to use the opportunity to collaborate, learn, innovate and inspire one another. She observed that the Makeathon was not just about the solution they would create but the journey they were to undertake and the knowledge they would acquire along the way.

Outlining the objectives of the Makeathon, Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alinah K. Segobye, highlighted it was aimed at facilitating the development of critical robotics skills among young people through innovation and creativity.

She added that the hope was to provide an open innovation space that would stimulate creativity through connection of innovators, researchers and industry players especially with young learners as well as the wider community.

Further, Professor Segobye underlined that the aim was promote mindset change towards a transition to innovation, digitalisation and the internet of things (IoT) as well as the economy that Botswana was thriving to establish.

She added that the Makeaton sought to forge collaboration between tertiary education institutions, industry and the entire education system to harness available skills among Batswana. She underscored the importance of keeping abreast with the rapid technological changes to deliver timely and relevant education to Batswana.