Page 26 - issue 25

26 Associations

BIE 16th Biennial International Conference

theme aligned to SDGs to better local

Engineering

otswana Institution of Engineers The conference delivered research
is one of the oldest Associations based knowledge directly aligned to
Blocally being started by 27 the following SDGs, quality education,
graduate engineers in 1984. BIE has clean water and sanitation, industry
about 1500 members to date. The innovation and infrastructure,
Association hosted its 16th International sustainable cities and communities and
Biennial Conference 2019 at Grand Aria climate action.
this November.
“Engineers in Botswana are fully Engineer Oliver Balebeng
The President of BIE, Engineer Oliver capacitated to be major contributors to The President of BIE,
Balebeng welcomed the delegates Botswana’s economy, governance and
to the convention. The event was professionalism including their ability to
held under the theme ‘In pursuit network with the local and international
Of Millennium Development Goals Engineering community”, he said.
beyond 2015: Sustainable Knowledge
–based Economies through Engineering The Conference Committee Chairman
and Applied sciences’. University Of Professor Rapelang Marumo also
Botswana, SAFEO-Southern African concurred with the President and added
Federation Of Engineering Organisations that,“knowledge creation and the
and Botho University co-hosted the application of knowledge has become
event. central to economic growth. Knowledge, Engineer Goerge Sitali
no longer resources is the major source SAFEO President
The President explained that this this of wealth around the world today. This
theme demonstrated Botswana’s realisation is now driving Botswana to
consistence to strive towards developing make major changes to its education
the national engineering human capital system in order to begin to produce
to align with the international world a new workforce which will create
in order to achieve the SDGs through new knowledge. Any country which
building internal engineering capacity to seeks to become part of the globalised
achieve the national vision 2036 pillar of knowledge economy has to produce a
Sustainable Economic Development. new generation of knowledge workers.”

Engineer Martin Manuhwa
President FAEO gave the keynote address

Representatives of different Associations from Left : BIE,FAEO, ERB,SAFEO Engineers in attendance

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