Vice Chancellor Calls for Curriculum Reform to Meet Demands of Knowledge-based Economy
University of Botswana (UB) Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, has called on academics to modernise the tertiary education curriculum to meet the demands of the knowledge economy and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Norris emphasised that traditional teaching and learning approaches were increasingly outdated and no longer adequate in preparing students for the challenges of the future.
He was speaking at the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) 5th Biennial International Conference held at UB from the 9th to 11th of April 2025. It was held under the theme “Strengthening Information and Knowledge Management Paradigms in the Era of Advanced Technologies.
The three-day conference brought together knowledge and information management professionals such as archivists, record managers, librarians, educators, indigenous knowledge management experts, information technology specialists, lawyers, educators and practitioners to discuss and explore ways of enhancing information and knowledge management practices in Africa and beyond.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, Professor Richard Tabulawa, noted that there was a need to enhance and strengthen knowledge and information management, adding that a knowledge-based economy was not only about the growth of the economy and ensuring general well-being of citizens but wealth creation as well.
Professor Tabulawa Continued that for a successful knowledge economy, countries must act simultaneously on their education base, innovation systems and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure.