Page 22 - issue 25

22 Smart Green Botswana Makeathon

ITQ GmbH
Managing Director
: Doctor Engineer
Rainer Stetter

There is need to change perception

about Engineering in Botswana

peaking to Engineer Magazine, and one of the local organizing team was to change that perception through
The Managing director of ITQ member of the technical team Mr the Smart Green Makeathon 2019. He
SGmbH Dr,Eng. Rainer Stetter said Monageng Kwadi said “Makeathon said “There is a need for engineers in
in Germany, Botswana is known for wild event students are given challenges Germany especially in areas of software
life and if it wasn’t for his membership with time constraints. Within these time engineering, mechatronics ,etc. The big
of the VDMA, he would have visited constraints they should come up with companies in Germany are looking for
Botswana for Safari or wild life especially solutions to the challenges presented to young engineers.”
to see elephants. He highlighted that it them. The setup is not a competition but
is important to showcase young talent a collaborative effort where students During the Makeathon , Vice Chancellor
to the world through Makeathons. can set up ideas to innovate.” for the Botswana International
University of Science and Technology
A Makeathon will show the world that Makeathons are an excellent way of (BIUST) toured the event and in
Botswana has young talented people gathering science, technology and conversation with the ITQ GmbH and
in the areas of software engineering. engineering students from different Engineer Magazine Botswana said
Stefani Zomboni a software engineer academic institutions having different “students must work together from
at ITQ GmbH said “the students have learning experiences. It is worth noting various Universities because the real
some really good ideas, we brought that this event is a first in Southern world out there is about partnerships,
with us some challenges in the areas African soil and second to be held in collaborations and team works.” He
of IOT, clean water challenge and smart Africa after Tunisia. went on to say that “You can’t learn
farming. The students really had some about team work in a book but you
new ideas about these topics and they Dr Eng Rainer Stetter said the picture have to make it work through such
are inspired.” out there about Botswana especially to initiatives.”
The team from Germany agreed that a European is not of Engineering and
in Botswana young people are talented his main reason to come to Botswana

Issue 25 - Dec/Jan 2020 www.engineermagazine.co.bw