UPDATE ON THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE BOTSWANA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
The Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources ( BUAN) is established in terms of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources [ Cap. 57: 02] Laws of Botswana.
The Student Representative Council ‘ SRC, is a statutory body established in terms of Statute 17 of the University Statutes. It is through this structure that Management, Senate and Council interacts with students and student issues. The University upholds the highest standards of engagement with the SRC and recognise that they represent the student.
The events that led to the closure of the University, as outlined below:
1. The SRC engaged the Department of Academic and Student Services on their wish to host an event for the students and were informed that the balance they had could not accommodate the event planned.
2. There was an over expenditure in the student subvention account due to the activities held by the SRC in the previous academic year. This fact was known by the SRC and was further demonstrated through a communication dated 18th April 2023.
3. In response, the SRC wrote a letter on 18th April 2023,
alleging that Management was tampering with their STudent Life Fee, and demanding to meet Management while in the interim they boycotted academic activities.
4. Management acceded to the meeting request to discuss the matter further and map the way forward. However, the meeting did not proceed due to the refusal of the SRC to attend.
5. In order to ensure little disturbance to the academic business, the University Management resolved to credit the subvention funds for Semester 2 to the SRC account. Notwithstanding the immediate resolution of the dispute, students continued boycott of classes.
6. Through a memorandum of the April 19th, 2023 and the addressed made to the student body by Management, the students were requested to return to class on April 20th, 2023, as the Student Life Subvention matter was addressed Further, they were advised that any subsequent issues should be addressed through appropriate University structures.
7. The SRC wrote to the Vice Chancellor the same day of April 19th, 2023, raising additional issues through a correspondence titled, Academic Negligence, Fraud and Theft. They also reiterated that they would not be going 8. 9.
RESPONSE TO STUDENTS ALLEGATIONS A. CURRICULUM REVIEW AND PROGRAMME ACCREDITATION
The SRC has alleged that the University programmes are not reviewed and unaccredited. They listed the following as some of the unaccredited programmes:
i. ii. iii. iv. v. back to classes until these new issues were resolved. On Thursday 20th April 2023, the students barricaded the University gates from 4pm refusing staff members to leave campus. The Botswana Police Services were called in to restore order, and staff members were able to leave the University.
It became clear that the students were not willing to engage management through the recognized structures, they were still not willing to go back to class. There were reports of intimidation and harassment of staff and other students. With security concerns raised the Management following the relevant process, resolved to close the University.
BSc Animal Science
BSc Crop Science
BSc Soil and Water Conservation BSc Agricultural Economics BSc Agricultural Education
RESPONSE: The University would like to rest assure all prospective and current students that all programmes offered by the University are Registered with BQA, and the newly accredited programmes. Further, legacy programmes, being those that were offered before the establishment of BQA, are recognized by BQA and the University is authorized to enroll students in those.
APPENDIX I
LIST OF BUAN LEGACY LEARNING PROGRAMMES ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN FOR THE YEAR 2023/ 2024
Refer to Appendix I for the list of the registered and the newly accredited programmes as recognized by the regulatory body ( BQA) which includes all programmes that are alleged to be unaccredited.
The University continues to review courses alongside the development of new programmes and Legacy programmes.
B. ACADEMIC THEFT
The SRC alleges that lecturers steal and use research projects from students under their supervision. The University requires for the SRC to furnish it with cases of infringement pertaining to the specific student projects they are aware of to enable management to investigate the issues further and take necessary action.
C. ACADEMIC FAIRNESS AND INJUSTICES
The SRC alleges that they are isolated from participating in the academic complaints process.
RESPONSE:
Individual Student academic matters are confidential in nature; therefore, the students appeal on a personal basis.
The University appeals procedures is as per the international standards, and they allow for students to appeal to every academic structure of the university as well as to the relevant external structures.
Students are represented in the Departmental and Faculty Boards where issues of fairness and injustice are raised.
D. ACADEMIC EXCURSIONS AND PRACTICALS
The SRC alleges that programmes which have courses scheduled in the prospectus and course outline do not have any practical work and that timetable slots allocated for practicals which should include excursions are rather used to push other academic activities.
RESPONSE:
The students are encouraged to provide a list of courses for necessary action to be taken this will help the University in their investigations. Management has encouraged lecturers to undertake all excursions in their course outlines. Furthermore, the University is working on excursion fees per course as provided by the Departments, therefore new rates will be submitted to Senate for approval.
The University Management wishes to state that it is committed to engage the SRC and map an amicable way forward to address all issues raised.
Furthermore, the University is committed to providing and enabling environment for the students to reside and learn. We are hopeful that planned engagement with the SRC will yield a favourable outcome for all concerned.