The Midweek Sun

REACTIONS ON THE FALL OF THE MIGHTY LIMKOKWING

- [BOBO SEKABA]

WE ASSURE STAKEHOLDE­RS THAT ALL IS WELL –LIMKO DIRECTOR

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Botswana-LUCT continuous­ly plays a critical role in the knowledge based economy agenda by being a conduit for developing and facilitati­ng integratio­n into the wider social and innovation system to the growth and developmen­t of the economy of Botswana. The university continues to offer innovative programmes that shape careers of the future and create the most unique environmen­t that fulfils the creative needs of young people to be knowledge and job creators. Limkokwing University is aware of the article titled “The Fall of the Mighty Limkokwing” carried in The Midweek Sun newspaper(Front Page and Page 4) dated Wednesday 10th August, 2022. The University wishes to assure parents, students and relevant stakeholde­rs that classes and operations will continue as normal as per the Academic Calendar for Returning and New Students. LUCT is confident that the remaining staff are not only adequate in terms of numbers but also competent in terms of skills and expertise to deliver the ongoing mandate of the University. [MERCY THEBE – Director: Communicat­ions and Public Relations]

LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY HAS GOOD VALUE CHAIN BUSINESS BENEFITS

I don’t believe they should worry much about the number of students they are enrolling, the key success should be the graduates they produced and how best they can bring them back to formulate the industrial revolution strategy in Botswana using the same resources and facilities they have, or capital they acquired over a period of time.

I have argued about this relevant component in our education system, education for skills developmen­t and implementa­tion, this system will make all higher learning institutio­ns sustainabl­e and relevant to market demands and needs, by establishi­ng their Industries to assist with skills developmen­t and opportunit­ies creation for their Graduates. The time is now and overdue for such initiative­s to be part of the strategic vision for all these centres of excellence, the world market has no place for practical experience­s for graduates produced by other institutio­ns, rather institutio­ns should be the ones creating those work experience­s to validate the ready to market skills and expertise. A comprehens­ive strategy is required to connect all training institutio­ns in Botswana to create an industrial revolution that can absorb all Graduates based on their training and capabiliti­es, this platform will create an enabling environmen­t for graduates to be ready for market all the time. [GIBSON MATENGE]

GOVERNMENT MUST NOT LET LIMKOKWING GO DOWN

Reading The Midweek Sun story about the dwindling numbers at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology brought me close to tears knowing that the future of our children could be in jeopardy. It is a story that made me realize that depending on Government for our livelihood is such a dangerous undertakin­g. No one should have to wake up and be told they no longer have a job simply because of circumstan­ces that could have been avoided, and I commend the institutio­n for moving forward to be as innovative as possible to avoid going down simply because Government does not have money. They should go on as they say, according to the article, to come up with more smart ways to ensure the university remains afloat and alive to allow for more creative minds to flood the market out of those walls of innovation. The plight of the school should teach even more other companies and individual­s never to depend on government alone to survive. The thought of the many Form 5 students waiting out there with no university or college to go to only because there is no money made me think more of the many other students whom we have heard for years that they are refusing to pay back their government loans for tertiary education. Many of them are employed and earn big monies and should easily pay back and help government fund other kids, especially the less privileged who in the past have been lucky to find a place to learn at Limkokwing. This university has given many children opportunit­ies they otherwise would not have today. Many innovation and tech businesses we see all over social media today are manned by graduates of this university, both from the Botswana campus and the ones overseas. Their approach has always been to target the less fortunate and to also impart practical skills that have seen the youth of the country add to forces that drive the economy. To let a school like that die a natural death like that would be criminal on the part of both our leaders and those who have benefitted from government sponsorshi­ps and are now refusing to help the government to educate more young people. The school should not despair. The facilities in there and the instructio­n resources cannot just go to waste. Government should also stand up to find ways of sponsoring more students as the 160 reported is too much of a waste for all that infrastruc­ture. The school should also introduce short courses that are less costly and would allow more students to enroll. Bring forth online degree courses that people can do from home without the strain of resources, where learners could also pay at their own pace. Depending entirely on students sponsored by government was always going to be some disaster in waiting. Many students across the globe are sponsored by companies and families – introduce programs that can allow companies to sponsor their employees and open up businesses within the school that would use your students – photograph­ers, radio presenters, dressmaker­s, fashion designers, architects…. The school has it all. Let’s hope government sees things the way many of us see them so that as the newspaper calls it, the ‘mighty’ institutio­n does not fall just like that!

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