Minister Madigele graces the Institutional Planning Workshop

Targeting Heads of both Public and Private Education Institutions the Human Resource Development Planning (Supply) unit held a workshop at Phakalane Golf Estate on the 22nd – 24th November 2016 under the theme ‘Institutional Planning: The Gate Way to producing Quality and Employable Graduates’. The objectives of the workshop were to; inform Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) of the need to align to the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) and the skills needs of the labour market, explain the roles and expectations of both HRDC, Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and TEI’s, share planning frameworks to be used and the process for purpose of improving as well as to share the roll-out Plan for working with institutions to develop their plans.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) Dr Raphael Dingalo welcomed the representatives of both Public and Private Institutions and indicated that they are partners in educating and training the human capital of Botswana as elaborated in the National Human Resource Development Strategy (2009-2022).Dr Dingalo also highlighted that in realising the National Vision 2036, both public and private Institutions must work closely together to encourage research and innovation.Giving the key note address the Minister for the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science & Technology Dr Alfred Madigele noted that Education and Training Institutions assist the Government by providing a skilled workforce for national needs. “Gone are the days when as Government we trained our citizens for the sake of training. A country’s economic growth is reliant on its productive workforce.’’

He further highlighted that recent observations and concerns about the prevailing skills mismatch, employability and youth unemployment has prompted HRDC to devise innovative strategies to address the situation, hence the multipronged approach that entails the profiling of different sectors in the economy.Elaborating on the mandate of HRDC, the Honourable Minister said ‘HRDC has to ensure that Batswana have equitable access to quality tertiary education system that is responsive, advances the learners potential and contributes to the development of a globally connected and prosperous nation, relevant skills for employability nationally and globally and provision of quality and relevant student support and wellness services.