Uni to upskill workforce
FOR innovator Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, education is the way forward.
The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology founder and president believes that it is a means of reducing and eradicating poverty.
“Young people are the future of the country.
“(If ) you train them well, you will (help to) develop their country well,” he said during a media briefing on his collaboration with the South African Development Community (SADC) in building a university within the Southern African region.
Much like the Asean Summit, the SADC Summit 2016 is an annual event established to promote sustainable and equitable socio-economic growth in the region.
It was after this summit, which was held in August, that the parties involved came together to build a university within its region.
The university, which will be known as the SADC University, sees the collaboration of 15 countries.
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology’s contribution is in the form of conceptualising the SADC University.
“We will build it based on the campuses we have in Africa,” Lim said.
The Limkokwing University of Creative Technology has campuses in Botswana and Swaziland.
He said that the varsity will also be built on the basis of high quality skills.
“No one will be unemployed. That’s the thinking behind it,” he added.
The university will open its doors in July 2017 and is estimated to take in around 2,000 students.
At least 300 of these students will be Limkokwing University of Creative Technology scholarship recipients.
Lim, who was appointed as the special advisor to the King of Swaziland to create content and branding for the summit, said that the SADC University’s essential concept is driven by technical and vocational education training (TVET).
“A skill based platform is what’s most needed in Africa. It’s focus will be on human resource, technology and development,” he added.
SADC University’s flagship campus will be in Swaziland while satellite campuses will be built in the rest of the 14 countries involved.
“It will be the first university of its kind to upskill the country, its workforce and industries. It looks very simple in concept but the summit becomes a reality (in terms) of a university,” Lim added.