Get news alerts Login Central AfricaEast AfricaHorn of AfricaIndian OceanNorth AfricaSouthern AfricaWest AfricaAfrica / World Agriculture - NutritionCulture - ArtsEconomy - DevelopmentEnvironment - NatureGay - LesbianGender - WomenHealthHuman rightsLabourMediaPoliticsScience - EducationSocietyTechnologyTravel - Leisure From Behind By Country By Topic Chronological Press Releases Partner Media Contact Us
   
 


See also:
» 22.05.2009 - Botswana begins building new science university
» 23.09.2008 - New training levy introduced in Botswana
» 01.12.2006 - World's oldest religion discovered in Botswana
» 05.05.2006 - Is Okavango Delta shrinking?
» 02.05.2006 - Ecology of Botswana's Okavango Delta deteriorating
» 27.02.2006 - Climate forecasts help predict African malaria epidemics
» 23.02.2005 - Outrage as Botswana expels critical academic
» 20.12.2004 - Botswana HIV rate at 17, not 40 percent








Botswana
Science - Education

Botswana seeks private partner for university

afrol News / SciDev.Net, 9 March - The government of Botswana is seeking a private partnership to overcome delays in getting its long-awaited science and technology university off the ground.

The deadline for opening the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has been moved from this year to 2009.

Badumetse Hobona of Botswana's Ministry of Education, the coordinator of the US$1.5 billion project, says that a public-private partnership will make the 2009 target possible.

In a paper published by the US Institute for Public Private Partnership in February, Hobona states that the country's Ministry of Education is still marketing the project to potential partners.

The education ministry is in the process of appointing a transaction advisor, who will undertake a feasibility study to determine the extent of private sector interest and potential funding levels. The advisor will also develop a plan to be used in marketing the project to potential partners.

So far both local and international companies have expressed interest. Hobona says the procurement of private partners will follow the existing tender procedures required by Botswana's regulations to ensure transparency.

The government will finance those aspects of the project that may not attract private finance, such as land purchase and labour.

"The private sector will not only be involved in the financing but also in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility, and will also participate in the development and delivery of BIUST curriculum to ensure its relevance to the needs of the country," said Hobona.

The government hopes BIUST will produce a workforce capable of participating in technology transfer and facilitating economic development.

Legislation for the establishment of the university is now in place, and a 1,700-hectare plot has been purchased in Palapye, about halfway between Botswana's capital Gaborone and its second largest city, Francistown.


By Talent Ngandwe


- Create an e-mail alert for Botswana news
- Create an e-mail alert for Science - Education news

    E-mail this to a friend     Printable version

Related pages and feature
Current afrol News Top Stories
Botswana
Science - Education
Higher Education
Policy
There are currently no news articles published related to this section.


top of page about afrol News | news | countries | archive | services | feed back | español 

© afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com