SRC UNDERGO LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND MENTORING

According the Human Resource Development Councils (HRDC) Strategic Plan 2016-2020, the student community are a strategic stakeholder which the organisation is expected to work closely with in transforming the education sector in Botswana. In an effort to uphold this obligation, HRDC conducts annual student’s leadership training to nurture young student leaders. On the 20th - 21st September 2017, HRDC hosted a Student Representative Council (SRC) leadership training and mentoring workshop at Travelodge, under the theme, ‘Talking Change; Cultivating Student Leaders and Changing Mind Set’’. The objectives of this workshop were among others, was to inculcate leadership skills to nurture young student leaders.

The outcome of this training in the medium and long term is to assist in the moulding of young leaders who are able to sustain institutions that they lead and more importantly to lead amidst inherent leadership challenges. In his opening remarks during the workshop, the HRDC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raphael Dingalo expressed his gratitude to the SRC members for occupying leadership positions at an early age. Dr. Dingalo also appreciated the gender balance within SRC members and encouraged this to continue in future to curb the problem of gender disparities within Botswana leadership positions.
Dr. Dingalo encouraged the SRC members to stand up against any challenges that comes with leadership responsibilities and refrain from giving up, as persistence and patience forms part of good leadership traits. “Leadership is a foundation to achieving the set goals and achieving those goals comes with challenges, which you as a leader should go through in order to archive those goals.” Said Dr. Dingalo.

The Director of Human Resource Development Planning (HRDP)-Supply, Dr Ellah Matshediso explained the objectives of the training workshop. She further emphasised that some sessions will focus on various aspects of transformative and progressive leadership such as negotiations skills, conflict management, effective communication, leading a vision and inspiring others which are relevant for the 21st century leader.

Dr Matshediso encouraged the SRC members to use leadership skills acquired from this training to inspire others and lead by example in discharging their leadership roles. The two-days leadership training and mentoring workshop was filled with informative presentations and deliberations including those about: Personality test; leadership concepts, principles and theories; student governance, teambuilding; effective communication and making an impression and many others.

News Date: 
Friday, September 22, 2017