One of the strategic goals of the University of Botswana is strengthening engagement and involves knowledge transfer, entrepreneuship, community engagement and internationalization.
This is done through, but not limited to, organising or running workshops, panel discussions, public debates, public lectures and inaugural lectures.
The Public Education Unit of the Centre for Continuing Education is one of the University of Botswana structures that are mandated to take the University to the public through the following activities:
- Workshops – These are conducted after learning needs have been identified. For example, a workshop was conducted for Kweneng West Agricultural Extension workers after they indicated that they needed training on Community Mobilization, Leadership Development and Group Formation.
- Panel discussions are organised in collaboration with other Departments of the University of Botswana or organisations such as UNICEF. Panel discussions on climate change and Children’s Rights were orginised in collaboration with Department of Environmental Sciences of UB and UNICEF, respectively, and were well attended.
- Public lectures are organised after a speaker has been identified. An individual can be approached to talk about a topic of public interest. For example, the Coordinator of the Botswana Education Hub was invited to present on the mandate of the organisation. Public lectures are also organised for those awarded the University of Botswana Honorary Doctorates, for example, Dr. G.K.T. Chiepe, Dr. Batho Molema, Dr. Alec Campbell and Dr. Carl Seligmann.
- Inaugural lectures are orginised for newly promoted full Professors and appointed full Professors of the University of Botswana. The Professors are invited through their Heads of Departments or Deans of Faculties to present on topics of their choice. Some Professors do approach the Public Education Unit at CCE to indicate their desire to give an inaugural lecture.
The programmes here are aimed at providing general education to the public on a broad range of issues. They include, but are not limited to public lectures, debates and discussions, training workshops for extension staff, seminars, inaugural lectures and other public education outreach programmes.