Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) last week sealed a working relationship with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The Memorandum of Understanding is intended to foster a partnership between the University and the Ministry in pursuit of realisation of the objectives of the Remote Area Development Programme.
Speaking during the official signing of the MOU that was held at Limkokwing boardroom in Gaborone last week Thursday, Assistant Minister Botlogile Tshireletso said her Ministry’s partnership with Limkokwing University comes at an opportune time when Government has just recently approved the ‘Affirmative Action Framework’ for remote area communities together with its ten (10) year implementation matrix. “The Framework is intended to fast-track the RADP implementation by enhancing amongst others; Remote Area Communities’ access to social services, poverty eradication initiatives and other national development programmes”, Tshireletso said.
She said in particular the two parties will together promote youth development activities with particular focus to those that are in remote communities through various public and private sector schemes. They will also increase access to tertiary education by students from RACs. Limkokwing will also help brand and assist with marketing of arts and crafts from RACs. Tshireletso said her Ministry’s relationship with Limkokwing University is not new as the university has previously helped her ministry with preparations for Miss RADP 2013 and 2014 beauty pageants, where they did all the designs for posters and tickets at no cost.
For his part, Limkokwing Vice President, Corporate and Industry Relations Mosoma Kgotla said relations between Limkokwing University and the government of Botswana date back to 1999 when Botswana government started to place large numbers of pre-service students in Malaysia to pursue various studies at tertiary level. “As you may recall the year 1999 is the time when two post BGCSE groups (one from Tirelo Sechaba and the other straight from form 5) had to enter university at the same time. Among the challenges and pressures on government then, were the inadequate local tertiary education vacancies to cater for the two groups in one year. Limkokwing University became one of the preferred external institutions for placement of Batswana students”, Kgotla said.
He said as a tertiary institution and in keeping with commitment and the kind of programmes offered, Limkokwing University commits to partnering with industry and government in a wide range of activities and initiatives throughout the year. Kgotla said all these efforts are deliberately aimed at making the institution relevant to the communities and industry and also as part of the national drive to uplift and positively impact the lives of the common people particularly those in rural communities. “This is part of what we do as a Corporate Social Responsibility”, said Kgotla.
