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Theme: Global Employability and Internationalization

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Theme: Global Employability and Internationalization Botho University International Research Conference 2013 Report Theme: Global Employability and Internationalization Gaborone, Botswana 25th -26th November, 2013 Contents 1. Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... 3 2. Executive Summary: ............................................................................................................ 4 3. Introduction: ........................................................................................................................ 6 4. Background:......................................................................................................................... 6 i. Challenges and Opportunities .......................................................................................... 6 ii. Internationalisation of Higher Education .......................................................................... 7 iii. Transnationalisation of Higher Education ......................................................................... 7 5. Conference Theme: ............................................................................................................. 8 1. Subtheme ......................................................................................................................... 8 6. Objectives of the conference: .............................................................................................. 8 7. SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS: ........................................................................ 9 8. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS FROM THE CONFERENCE: .......................................................... 11 9. Conclusions:....................................................................................................................... 12 10. Lessons and Recommendations ...................................................................................... 14 11. Conference Structure: .................................................................................................... 14 12. British Council Conference Workshop: ........................................................................... 14 13. Teeside University Student Project Competition: ........................................................... 14 14. Outstanding Challenges: ................................................................................................. 15 15. Annexes ......................................................................................................................... 16 i. The Programme:............................................................................................................. 16 ii. List of Participants .......................................................................................................... 24 iii. Opening Statements, Key Note Speeches and Concluding Remarks: .............................. 26 1 Delegates sharing a light moment during the conference Delegates singing the National Anthem 2 1. Acknowledgments This report is based on a number of documents including the following: welcome Remarks made by the Vice Chancellor of Booth University, Ms. Sheela Ram, official Opening Remarks made by the High Commissioner, UK Embassy, Key Note Addresses by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary education Council, Dr Patrick Molutsi and Mr. Lucky Mohai, Coordinator of the Botswana Education Hub, remarks made during panel sessions, the workshop organized by the British Council, parallel sessions and concluding remarks made by the Pro Vice Chancellor of Botho University, Mr Ravi Srinivasan. I want to thank the Steering Committee of BUIRC 2013, conference participants and, particularly, the presenters, delegates, related Committees of the Conference, the Marketing Department and the Registration Team for their unwavering support, attendance, and contributions to this report. A note of appreciation is in order to thank the British Council, Botswana Education Hub, Teesside University, and all sponsors who contributed financially towards this conference. Finally we are most grateful to Botho University staff members for the role they played to make this conference a reality. The content of this report, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations do not necessarily represent those of any of the aforementioned individuals, or the positions of any of the aforementioned organisations. Minor changes have been made to the electronic version of the report since its publication. 3 2. Executive Summary: Botho University Research Department organized and facilitated the Botho University International Research Conference 2013, which was held at Botho University Gaborone Campus on the 25ht and 26th November, 2013. The conference was designed to provide academics, professionals, research scholars, policy implementers and other stakeholders a special opportunity to deliberate on issues relating to global employability of graduates coming out of tertiary institutions and suggest practical feasible strategic decisions that higher education institutions must make to addressthis issue comprehensively. The conference also explored and established a platform for dialogue in relation toi ssues of relevance to the current curriculum being implemented by many higher education institutions internationally and some of issues that r3main unresolved relating to global employability of graduates. The conference addressed the importance of making a paradigm shift in terms of moving from “employee-oriented” curriculum to an “employer-oriented” curriculum The two days conference was a historic event, as it was the first to be conducted on a wide-scale with representation from ten countries – USA, UK, Zambia, Canada, Mauritius, Nigeria, Liberia, South Africa, Finland and Zimbabwe. Participants exchanged ideas and challenged the current mindset of academics, administrators and policy makers to move away from the traditional university curriculum that was shaped and structured with the intentions and constraints of colonial administrations that wanted to establish very limited developmental universities that would serve the needs of colonial governments. The atmosphereduring the conference promoted positive ideas, while at the sametime acknowledged and addressed the obstacles for further success in the field of global employability. Plenary Session chaired by Mrs. Kupe (L) from the Tertiary Education Council 4 Conference delegates posing for a photograph during the conference 5 3. Introduction: In 2013 Botho University celebrated 16 years of supporting the Botswana economy by transforming the education scenario of Botswana as a multidisciplinary education provider through its faculties of business, education, computing, accounting and finance. The Tertiary Education Council awarded Botho University its “university status” in 2013 and with this recognition, Botho University became Botswana’s first home-grown private University. On the 17 June 2013, Botho University was awarded the BOS ISO 9001:2008 certification Last year, the University has successfully hosted Botho University International Research Conferences, drawing together internationally-acclaimed academics, researchers and captains of industry, to deliberate on crucial and topical issues relating to the inescapable role of tertiary education plays in providing sustainable, practical and most viable alternatives that governments, employers, students and policy advisors worldwide should consider in their search and pursuance for relevant, dynamic and vibrant socio-economic development strategies, policies and options to keep up with the inevitable and growing demands of the global economy and community. The Conference presented a special forum for the same audience that has traditionally graced its corridors to amalgamate and share thought-provoking ideas surrounding global employability and the internationalization of education. The Report summarises key points raised during the deliberations of the conference. 4. Background to the Conference: The issue of graduate employability has taken center stage in higher education institutions because of the impact of globalization on higher education globally. “Employability is not the same as gaining a graduate job; rather it implies something about the necessary attributes and capacity of the graduate to function and be successful in a job and be able to move between jobs, thus remaining employable throughout their life.” Globalisationcan simply be defined as “…the flow of technology, economy, knowledge, people, values, ideas…across borders (Knight 1999 p.14).” Graduates and employers are searching for ways and means to take full advantage of the globalisation process. Many businesses view the “globalisation’ as a key driver for achieving business success, whether through achieving shareholder value, building sustainability or entering new markets. i. Challenges and Opportunities The market for high-skilled graduates is increasingly global, presenting challenges and opportunities for both the potential employers and employees. Economic and technological changes are facilitating “internationalisation” and “de-territorialisation” of business, with many companies, large and small, moving aggressively into international operations and international personnel recruitment patterns. Global political leaders and chief executives of large corporations are challenging national expectations for the graduate workforce that is coming from higher education institutions
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