LEA and BIUST have signed a memorandum of understanding leading to the placement and attachment of final year students under BIUST with LEA assisted Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), further identifying and delivering appropriate entrepreneurship and skills training for potential entrepreneurs at BIUST and facilitating the sharing of equipment, workshops and machinery.
The parties also committed to developing best practices amongst participants for SMME development, conducting joint needs assessment for the programmes and facilitating the transfer of business and technology skills to SMMEs and BIUST students.
“Implementation and operationalization of the MOU is paramount, and it must take off immediately. The success of this collaboration will be measured by the impact realized on the ground,” said Dr. Racious M. Moatshe, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Local Enterprise Authority(LEA).
He said, “This nation needs strategic alliances such as this one, where institutions work together to complement each other’s mandate, and collectively facilitate impactful initiatives.”
The LEA Chief stressed the importance of indicating the deliverables, timelines and resources that will be needed to carry out activities that will be driving our collaboration.
He also maintained that it was important to devise robust monitoring and evaluation tools to constantly assess performance and value addition of initiatives as well as their relevance and impact on the target market we set out to serve.
“In our case, we endeavour to transform and link entrepreneurship with technology and innovation, thereby igniting innovative solutions that can stay competitive and sustainable in the market,” said Moatshe.
He said, “Countries like China, Singapore and even in the third world- Rwanda, are good examples to emulate and customize solutions to suit our needs here in Botswana.”
Officials maintained that BIUST is a research intensive University and the only specialized higher learning institution in the country whereas LEA is a wholly-owned Government company specifically incorporated to develop entrepreneurial skills, assist entrepreneurs and diversify Botswana’s economy through various forms of entrepreneurships.
“Both BIUST and LEA intend to leapfrog our country to a knowledge-based nation with knowledge, skills, products and services that make life better for our people and that contribute to our nation’s wealth and wellbeing,” said Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, BIUST Vice Chancellor.
He said, “Therefore, BIUST and LEA complement one another. Our synergies are our strengths and our collaboration are our reason for the huge investment that our people have made in us.
