Page 30 - issue 23

30 Business

UB Partners with Justus Liebig University from

Germany to advance excellence in Research

niversity of Botswana (UB) Vice
Chancellor Proff.David Norris was
Uhonored to welcome a high profile
delegation from Germany. This delegation
included the distinguished Professor Joybrato
Murkhejee who is the Vice Chancellor of Justus
Liebig University and current VP of DAAD (THE
German Academic Exchange Service). Professor
Norris started by complementing efforts
being made by Germany in Botswana such as
diversification of the economy, promotion of
entrepreneurship and pursuing of goal-oriented
education and training.

UB has also benefitted from the Friedrich Ebet
Foundation that sponsored a number of human
rights, gender and HIV/AIDS projects. The
Professor went on to explain how UBs mandate
is similar to those of DAAD. “Our mission to
improve the economic and social conditions
of our nation through excellent delivery (left) Professor Joybrato Murkhejee - the Vice Chancellor of
of learning…and advance knowledge and Justus Liebig University and current VP of DAAD .
understanding through excellence in research (right)Proff.David Norris - Vice Chancellor of UB
aligns very well with your approach to promoting
academic exchange through scholarships for the
best for both researchers and staff around the
world.” he said.

He went on to let the attendees at this event
know that the structure for internationalism
resonates very well with the Botswana office of
internationalization and Exchange Partnerships
(OIEP), which has facilitated the meeting.

The university aims to be part of the solution
in assisting the nation to confront its national
challenges such as, climate change, food
production, high unemployment and minority
rights. These challenges call for economic
diversification, increasing skilled entrepreneurs,
intensifying post graduate research and
intensifying exchange programmes such as DAAD.
UB has language centers in French, Portuguese,
Chinese and Korean languages. These are in
line with DAADS aim to preserve language
diversity in research and academia. In the past University of Botswana Staff with high profile delegates from
ten years UB has signed seven Memorandum of Germany
Understanding with German Academic Institutes
but only three are still active.

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