Industry Aligned Curriculum Prepares Students to Acquire Necessary Industry Exposure
University of Botswana (UB) Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Richard Tabulawa, has said that aligning the curriculum with industry standards equips students with essential skills and knowledge, ensuring they were well-prepared to meet industry demands.
Professor Tabulawa was speaking at a stakeholder meeting between UB and Debswana Diamond Company at UB Council Chambers on the 6th August 2024. The purpose of the engagement was to provide an update on progress to date and share insights on training opportunities aligned to underground skills enhancement (occupations in demand within the mining sector) and obtain suggestions, views and from university academia.
Professor Richard Tabulawa highlighted the importance of designing university programmes that were closely aligned with industry needs, particularly in sectors such as mining to address the gap in mining skills and expertise. He noted that mining technologies evolved rapidly, making it crucial for students to stay updated and technically proficient to ensure they were market ready.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), Professor Edward Dintwa, echoed the same sentiments, stating that the recent engagement meeting was timely given as the University was currently undergoing restructuring and aligning its curriculum to better meet industry demands. He also urged Debswana to collaborate with the University in developing programmes tailored to the current needs of the mining industry.
Debswana Diamond Company's Social Performance Manager, Ms Elsie Tolani Mvimi, gave insights into Jwaneng Mine's transition from open pit to underground mining, a project expected to be completed by 2033.
Ms Mvimi identified shortage of underground mining skills and expertise as a significant risk to the project. Shei also highlighted the global shift towards underground mining, which has intensified competition for skilled resources.
She further noted that Debswana has recognized UB as a key partner in addressing this skills gap and is eager to share insights on training opportunities that align with the demands of underground mining but they did not cite the main presenter from Debswana.