The establishment of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Gaborone has not only placed Botswana in a global community but also made Malaysia an important player in the African country’s efforts to build a more educated and informed nation by 2016, writes Suzieana Uda Nagu.

Batswana Tiamelo Motshubi and Duduetsang Sandra Moilwa, first-year advertising students at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Gaborone, Botswana, cannot wait for the final year of their four-year course to come.

It is not that the two friends have grown tired of studying. They are counting the days for the chance to complete their courses on the Malaysian campus in Cyberjaya.

“Oh yes! We have every intention of finishing our studies there. We want to experience life in Malaysia,” says the bubbly Motshubi, with Moilwa in agreement, after the university’s graduation ceremony held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre recently.

Motshubi has been excited about the prospect of studying in the Malaysia university since she saw advertisements announcing the opening of the Gaborone campus in local newspaper early last year.

“On every three pages (of the local dailies) there would be a mention of the university. It really made me curios as to what it had to offer,’ says the 18-year-old.

Motshubi was not the only one whose interest was piqued by “the university with the funny name”. Thousands of other young Batswana were too.

Some 5,000 people turned up at the Fairgrounds Mall campus on the day of registration last year. The university, at the time, was only taking in 1,500 students. It now has close to 6,000 registered students.

The university has since opened a second campus at Block Six, a short drive from Fairgrounds Mall. Its biggest campus yet, meant to accommodate all programmes under one roof, at Block Seven is now under construction.

With two campuses and another on the way, the university – the first private foreign university in Botswana – has made itself an integral part of Botswana’s landscape.

Nestled between South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, Botswana is a landlocked nation known as the largest exporter of gemstone diamonds and beef to European Union countries.

Rich in culture and wildlife, it is home to Africa’s last great wilderness including the Okavango Swamps and the Kalahari Desert. Botswana is referred to as one of the continent’s “success stories” with a “stable and functioning multiparty and democratic government”.

Since gaining independence from Britain 42 years ago, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income globally. Last year, it was reported to have transformed itself from one of the poorest countries to a middle-income nation with a per capita gross domestic product of US$14,700 (RM51,450).

This was no doubt driven by Botswana’s national manifesto dubbed Vision 2016 mooted 12 years ago which holds the aspirations of Botswana’s 1.6 million population as it celebrates its 50th year of independence in eight year’s time.

The key goals of Vision 2016 include open and transparent governance; a nation that is productive and innovative; educated and informed; moral and tolerant; united and proud; compassionate, just and caring as well as safe and secure.

Against this backdrop, some locals consider the establishment of the Malaysian university which offers courses in multimedia, film and design, among others to be significant.

Students and alumni believe that the tertiary institution is poised to contribute to Botswana’s strategy to create a critical mass of innovative human capital which will realize Vision 2016.

To Maikutlo Makgekgenene, a 30-year-old lecturer at Botswana campus, the university is doing just that.

The young lecturer and alumna teaches creative studies, a foundation module taught to first-year students to broaden their minds and think creatively.

The course also teaches students to think outside of the box and on their feet, says Makgekgenene.

“We are always on our toes. Everything is snap, snap, snap (snapping her fingers). Keeping busy keeps the creative juices flowing,” add Makgekgenene, who has grown accustomed to the fast-paced work culture at the university which is a contrast to the laid-back ways of the locals.

To Motshubi,  the emphasis on creativity was something new.

“One of the first things we learned at the university was to be creative again. The school system we went through didn’t nurture our creativity. Here, we learned to use all aspects of our minds,” she says.

Moilwa says: “Learning is made fun again as our inner child is allowed to come out and play.”

Creative people are just what the developing country needs to realize its Vision 2016, says Makgekgenene.
Republic of Botswana president Festus G Mogae reveals that there will be a need for manpower with IT skills, for instance, once major projects in Botswana (currently in the pipeline) are in place.

Still, the Botswana president of 10 years feels it is far too early to tell if the Malaysian university will bring significant impact to the country.

“I hope the university will diversify the approach to education in Botswana and there is advancement in the area of science and technology where we lag behind,” says Mogae, who was awarded with an honorary Doctorate of Humanity at graduation ceremony.

He admires Malaysia for turning itself into a technologically-advanced country in a short span of time.

“Perhaps the university, as an institution created in Malaysia, is part of Malaysia’s ‘secret’,”  he says.

But Mogae could not ignore the positive influence the university has had on students.

“It is good to see young people brimming with enthusiasm. When people have confidence in themselves, they become high achievers,” he says.

Indeed, young Botswana alumni who returned to Botswana upon completing their studies in Malaysia are either holding important positions in local establishments or setting up their own companies.

Just like their seniors, Motshubi and Moilwa also aspire to be entrepreneurs.

“We want to set up our advertising agencies. There are very few in Botswana currently. As our university is the only institution which offers such a course locally, it will be easier for us to break into the job market,” says Moilwa, who quit the marketing and human resource course she was pursuing at a foreign university in South Africa to study in Botswana.

Motshubi also had registered with a tertiary institution in South Africa but made the switch to study in Limkokwing after visiting the campus.

Both students do not regret their decision to transfer universities as they are proud to be associated with the Malaysian tertiary institution.

“It is hard to explain it but Limkokwing students just stand out. It is because they have been exposed to so many new ideas. For instance, I’m learning so much about other cultures now,” says Moilwa.

Moilwa and Motshubi will learn much more from their first-hand experience in Malaysia when they finish their studies in Cyberjaya three years from now.