CEDA/DBSA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE 2018 OFFICIALLY OPEN

1.     After the success of the first CEDA/DBSA University Challenge, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency in partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa will officially launch the second year of the competition to the public on the 26^th of March 2018.

2.     This year the Agency intends to take the University Challenge to not only the student population in the participating institutions but also the general public. The University Challenge Secretariat has developed a marketing campaign that will ensure that more Batswana are sensitized on the competition and how it can change the life of one innovative student.

3.     After review of the 2017 University Challenge CEDA, the University Challenge Secretariat saw the need to add an additional three tertiary institutions namely:

·       Institution of Development Management (IDM)

·       Botswana Open University

·       Boitekanelo College

The Universities and Tertiary Institutions enlisted to participate in the 2017 University Challenge will still continue to participate in the 2018 version:

·       University of Botswana (UB)

·       Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)

·       Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN)

·       Botho University

·       Gaborone University College of Law

·       ABM University College

·       Ba Isago University

·       Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

·       Gaborone Institute of Professional Studies (GIPS)

·       Botswana Accountancy College (BAC)

4.     The University Challenge will keep the theme of addressing issues  of  Botswana Unemployment with closer focus on the following areas:

a.     Diagnosing factors contributing to current local unemployment status

b.     Analysing the local employment practices in comparison to the regional and global trends.

c.     Identifying and analysing local barriers/enablers in employment relating to issues of:

·       Sustainability of ideas.

·       Technology.

·       Culture.

·       Market Positioning.

·       Education system and alignment to industry – What are the gaps between academia and working world and their impact on growing the Botswana market?

·       Skills demand vs supply.

·       Generational drivers and alignment to employment needs and supply

·       Untapped opportunities that could improve employment in the country.

d.     Based on the above factors deducing a practical localised, viable, and sustainable solution/proposal to address the employment levels.

5.     The  University Challenge remains eligible to only Batswana students in the participating institutions as those mentioned above.

6.     The 2017 University Challenge was won by Mr. Lebogang Eugene Pule of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) who walked away with the grand prize of P200,000.00.

7.     This year the University Challenge continues to still offer the Grand Prize of P250 000.00.

8.     As of the 26^th March 2018, the public is invited to log on to www.ceda.co.bw to download the guidelines and entry forms to check if they eligible to enter. 

9.     For any further information regarding the University Challenge kindly contact:

Leatile G. Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel: +267 3170895

Fax: +267 3170896

Email: universitychallenge@ceda.co.bw