“Our dream as institutions of higher learning in Africa is to facilitate the growth and capacity of our national economies; anchored on locally designed infrastructure in many and different spheres…”
What is your vision for your specific industry?
The transitioning from a resourced-based to a knowledge-based economy is not a far-fetched reality. Ensuring learner’s research capabilities remain well-founded and maintaining a good educational experience for them is critical for universities to face the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic. Learners should be encouraged to improve their research efforts and ease the path for translating their research into business. Our dream as institutions of higher learning in Africa is to facilitate the growth and capacity of our national economies; anchored on locally designed infrastructure in many and different spheres. We continue to forge and undertake initiatives aimed at developing our human capital to position the entire African region at an equal footing in the international community of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.
The development and implementation of BIUST Strategic Plan 2016 to 2023; which includes the Entrepreneurship Strategy and a Research Strategy is aimed at fostering an enterprising culture, developing and maintaining the supporting infrastructure needed to turn BIUST into a STEM and entrepreneurial university.
Tell us a bit about your background.
Professor Otlogetswe Totolo, PhD, FBAS – Currently, BIUST Vice Chancellor, has held several executive positions at the University of Botswana (UB). PhD University of London (UK). MSc University of Reading, UK, BSc Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) UB. He has also completed numerous short courses on science management, Executive Leadership course with University of Oxford, and is widely published in international publications of repute, such as Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, International Journal of Environmental Geology, etc.
He is an outstanding and seasoned university administrator, brilliant scholar and international renowned Soil Scientist and has an invaluable wealth of experience in academia, having held senior management positions as Director of the Center for Scientific Research, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation, Head of Environmental Science, Dean of Faculty of Science, and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs at UB.
Directorship: Currently, serving as the Council member of the National University of Lesotho and Deputy Chairman of the Botswana UNESCO Chapter. He is the Founding Fellow Botswana Academy of Sciences.
Professor Totolo has served in various governing bodies as Chairman; Botswana Technology Center (BOTEC), Rural Industries Promotion Company (RIPCo), Environmental Heritage Foundation (EHF), Founding member of Somarelang Tikologo, and Founding Chairman of Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI).
What is the next innovation that’s going to change your industry?
Institutions in higher education such as BIUST, embarked on various research projects to deliver real life scientific solutions and innovations to this country especially in this challenging era of job creation and the 4th Industrial Revolution. The stimulation of innovation and the effective harnessing of emerging technologies is central to empowering learners in higher education to find solutions to problems affecting our communities, especially in the era of COVID-19.
BIUST has placed Botswana amongst the few African states that use drones to aid their respective health systems. The Palapye based university, in a tripartite partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) recently launched the ‘Drones for Health’ pilot project at an event held at the institution campus.
The Drones for Health pilot project which was recently launched in conjunction with Ministry of Health and Wellness, is amongst the many high profiled research activities undertaken at BIUST. It is funded by UNPFA at a tune of half a million Pula. The project is expected to alleviate the logistical challenges experienced in Botswana’s health care system.
Botswana will now join the revolution of assuming its place in the space domain, leading to what today is known as “New Space”through the fields of Telecommunications, and Astronomical Scientific missions with the ultimate goal of using “CubeSat” to solve our challenges in data collection and to take the right steps towards transforming the economy from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, this is due to the fact that Botswana could sooner than later, see a coal-to-Liquids refinery set up in Palapye, producing car fuels, tar, soap products, ammonia, and many more coal liquefying byproducts-based industries. This is attributed by the BIUST model of coal to liquid conversion project using a pyrolysis technology, a subject which has gained traction in Botswana after the national oil company, Botswana Oil.
Currently the following projects amongst others are being pursued through the Technology Park at BIUST: Mayonnaise Production, Production of Electricity from Botswana Coal through Gasification Process, Solar Network Project for Jamataka Village, amongst others.
BIUST’s patenting process currently ongoing include a farmyard monitoring system, which includes automatic livestock counting and access control to enhance the efficiency of livestock management. There is also a patent for an electrical switching system for a building or installation, which is designed to optimise power consumption.
Is there a particular moment or memory that stands out for you?
My appointment as the First Citizen Vice Chancellor for BIUST and subsequent reappointment for another term of five (5) years.
Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of? Why?
Leading the country’s only specialized science, research, technology, engineering, and innovation university to achieve Botswana’s national strategic initiative has been the highlight of my career. The university has embarked on various research projects to deliver real life scientific solutions and innovations to this country especially in this challenging era of job creation and the 4th Industrial Revolution, keeps me as passionate as ever. The projects highlighted above is a demonstration that we have the right technical skills and know-how to open investment avenues in Botswana.
What inspires you?
In the next 5-years, I will be driving the BIUST Strategic Plan to achieve the national agenda, in alignment with the current national policies and plans such as Vision 2036, the National Development Plans and the Millennium Development Goals.
What was the biggest challenge you have faced?
The funding for research initiatives, the funding for the University Master Plan and funding for postgraduate programmes.
What did you do to try solve this challenge?
We have developed the enterprise strategy which the aim of generating third stream income, and the commercialisation of the research prototypes.
What is your favorite quote that inspires you?
“The evil that Man does sometimes lives after him, the good is often interred with their bones …..” – Shakespeare.
