BA ISAGO University hosts successful inaugural National Career Fair Day
BA ISAGO was a hive of activity as hundreds of eager prospective learners thronged the BA
ISAGO Convention Centre at the Gaborone Campus on the 31st of March, 2022. This grand event in the University calendar was officiated by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism; Ms Philda Kereng. The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Acting CEO, Mr Meshack Tafa gave the keynote address.
This ground-breaking event was also attended by Industry Representatives from different sectors, namely Government Representatives, Real Estate Companies, the Banking and Financial
Services Sector, Quantity Surveyors, Min- ing Companies, Transport and Logistics Companies, Investment Companies, Insurance Companies, Legal Sector, Retail Sector, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Telecommunications Sector, Accounting Firms, Risk Management Companies, Educational Sector as well as Landscape and Architectural Companies. The University Management took a bold move to host this National Career Fair against the backdrop that even though it is generally known that career guidance and counselling are very important to future young leaders, not enough of it is being done to guide and counsel high school leavers. Most of the above, if not all are Corporate Organisations with a direct association with the University, through its programme offerings.
The Honourable Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism; Ms Philda Kereng, in her officiating remarks lauded BA ISAGO University for advancing the national agenda to transforming Botswana into a knowledge-based economy by 2036, as evidenced by commendable initiatives such as the Career Fair, which was fully resourced and supported by BA ISAGO. “The innovative Career Guidance and Counselling initiatives in collaboration with Industry and other stakeholders will surely advance learner capabilities and interests, particularly in programmes which are in line with 21st Century skills sets”, Hon Kereng said.
Hon Kereng further stated that it was quite commendable that a Private University such as BA ISAGO had decided to use their resources to complement the HRDC efforts to advise, plan, fund and coordinate the development of Botswana’s human resource to achieve a knowledge-based economy by engaging and integrating various stakeholders. She concluded her remarks by confessing that as a Minister responsible for Tourism and the Hospitality Sector, she not only endorsed these programmes but also took so much pride and interest in realising that, BA ISAGO University is now introducing, in its diverse curriculum, programmes in Hospitality and Tourism – a sector so vital to the economy.
“This move will no doubt give impetus to the development and professionalization of this industry. I can only wish and encourage you to give this one, the best shot you can as an Entrepreneurial University”, she remarked.
BA ISAGO Managing Director, Mr Odirile B. Gabasiane gave the welcome remarks and emphasised the fact that the occasion marked yet another milestone in the 20-year history of BA ISAGO University, as he expressed his gratitude to all BA ISAGO key stakeholders and business partners for honouring the invitation and also participating at the grand occasion. Mr Gabasiane stated that the Career Fair was largely fundamentally a way of going “Back to Basics” for BA ISAGO. “This event marks the beginning of our Special Commemorative 20th Anniversary Activities and today, we remember the harbinger and pioneer of this University, namely BA ISAGO Institute. The Institute was largely responsible for career guidance and counselling, as well as career expos and placing students within SADC and abroad”, Mr Gabasiane reported.
The M.D noted that one of the fundamental commitments of BA ISAGO University was to give back to the community, hence this high level free of charge extraordinary Community
Social Responsibility Initiative,
which primarily aims to provide Career Consultative Engagement between students, parents, guardians, sponsors, career guidance counsellors, training managers, human resource developers, teachers, academics, professional bodies, employers, Government and Civil Society.
Mr He concluded his remarks by stressing that the University Executive Management had decided to make such a Career Fair a permanent feature in the University Calendar of Events, to ensure that all learners are sufficiently guided before they undertake the tumultuous and challenging tertiary education journey.
The Acting HRDC CEO Mr Meshack Tafa, profoundly applauded BA ISAGO University for taking such a bold move and openly demonstrating their commitment to driving Botswana’s Human Capital Agenda. Mr Tafa stated that for the past two years, the HRDC has not managed to host the Botswana Human Resource Development and Skills Fair and Career Clinics, (BHRDS) due to COVID-19 restrictions.
He provided insights on the Skills Fair and Career Clinics by emphasising that during these Career Clinics, prospective learners got to meet experts from all sectors of the economy and acquire information on the required skills in demand by the economy. “It is during the BHRDS Fair and Career Clinics, where learners had the opportunity to get one-on-one guidance on the choice of learning programmes, a feel of the Tertiary Education and Training institution, firsthand information and opportunities to clarify any uncertainties regarding their chosen programmes”, Mr Tafa noted.
Traditionally, the BHRDS Fair and Career Clinics have provided a one-stop-shop where one can gather all information that will assist them to make informed career choices. The Acting CEO applauded the commendable move taken by BA ISAGO University to fill in the void that was created by the HRDC when it suspended the Career Fairs. To ensure continued relevance to the Labour Market, Mr Tafa mentioned that the HRDC has recommended that ETPs should continuously work with Industry to review their curriculum and develop new programmes. He also impressed on the need for prospective learners to make wise career choices, cognisant of the fact that their choices today have a big bear
ing on their future endeavours. He advised prospective learners to choose a career path they are passionate about, understand where the world and the economy of Botswana are going and look at digitisation and ICT in general as problems solvers for general life concerns. Mr Tafa concluded by imploring the prospective learners to consider entrepreneurship as a means of creating self-employment. Finally, he called on all prospective learners to make the most of the event that BA ISAGO had organised to derive maximum and long-lasting benefits from it.
The Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications; Mrs Gugulethu Ndebele, explained the main objectives of the National Career Fair in her introductory remarks. She stated that the National Career Fair served as a platform for BA ISAGO programme experts to provide information on career prospects to all tertiary education bound prospective students in collaboration with Industry Representatives. Mrs Ndebele further stated that the Industry Representatives, as well as experts from Faculties, were readily available to guide prospective learners and also enable them to freely choose to enrol for BA ISAGO market-responsive
programmes. “Together, we have a common purpose to empower, guide and nurture talent and help future leaders to make informed career choices”, Mrs Ndebele remarked. She reported that BA ISAGO University was commemorating 20 years in existence in Tertiary Education, and added that as part of the 20th Anniversary commemorations, the University Management had decided to do something special to give back to the community with the understanding that a University operates within a community, to serve the same community. She concluded her remarks by stating that BA ISAGO has produced over 17 000 graduates, hence meaningfully contributing to Botswana’s Human Capital Development Agenda.
In his closing remarks, Board Member and Chairperson of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, Mr Anderson Kgomotso stated that the BA ISAGO Board was truly amazed by the growth and evolution of the BA ISAGO brand over the last two decades. He stated that such milestones would not have been possible without the support from various stakeholders such as
Government, Regulatory Bodies, HRDC, various Ministries, Corporate Organisations, Parents, Sponsors as well as the Students themselves, past and present. “From humble beginnings way back in 2002, today, 20 years later, the University student population stands at close to 3 000 from a meagre 50”, he opined.
Mr Kgomotso re-iterated that BA ISAGO will not waiver in its commitment to continue contributing to Human Capital Development, and stated that this Career Fair was a testimony to that enduring commitment.
He also thanked Corporates who had gone the extra mile to donate water, namely PST Sales and Distribution Botswana, as well as O3. He ended his closing remarks by emphasising that as a strong, emerging Entrepreneurial Private University, the BA ISAGO internal tagline is “Marketing is Everything and for Everyone”, and stated that all BA ISAGO staff subscribe to and are guided by this simple, but very compelling motto.
After the official opening ceremony, the University Shareholders, Board Members as well as Executive and Senior Management got a chance to visit various Corporate stalls and to appreciate all the industry exhibitors who played a significant role in making the National Career Fair a resounding successa milestone they profoundly appreciated and were proud of.
Prospective learners also got a chance to see BA ISAGO University on the physical side and got to appreciate the ambience, the aesthetics, as well as the very conducive and welcoming environment that will be home to them for the duration of their studies.
BA ISAGO is availing Career Guidance services to as many people as possible. After the Gaborone Career Fair, the Fair will move to the Northern Region and Ngamiland
as well. In celebrating BA ISAGO’s 20 Years, it is indeed a noble idea to provide such a service at a national level and open it to the general public at no cost at all.
Above all, this event further consolidated BA ISAGO’s ever-growing strong brand, which is largely anchored on a broadbased curriculum, market-responsive programmes, market-ready graduates, a notably robust strategic business orientation to Human Capital Development, an evidently growing culture of quality-driven processes and procedures, and a vibrant Teaching and Learning environment, supportive of a student-centric focus.