麻豆传媒

October 2013 Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)

Past Vice-Chancellor, University of Botswana

The stereotypical image of a university is of a campus populated with century-old stone buildings, wrapped in ivy and steeped in tradition. The stereotypical challenge for that institution? Reinventing itself for relevance in the technology-driven 21st century.

But what of more recent institutions, those like the University of Botswana, a university with just over three decades of history, an educational institution that has grown as its country has grown? At the University of Botswana, the buildings are modern and spread over four campuses, and the challenge is not reinvention so much as it is invention. Inventing an institution that can foster the hopes of a relatively young independent nation, that can lead on a continent facing challenges of poverty, emerging economies and post-colonialism, and that can attract and keep its brightest minds rather than losing them to other nations. Those are the challenges that Dr. Bojosi Otlhogile, recently-retired Vice Chancellor of the University of Botswana, faced as he worked to cement the university鈥檚 reputation as one of the most notable institutions within sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Otlhogile is a graduate of the University of Botswana and Swaziland, a predecessor of his present university and where he obtained his law degree (LLB). He went on to win scholarships and fellowships that allowed him to complete his LLM and PhD in Law at the University of Cambridge in England. After returning to Botswana, he held a variety of academic posts at the University of Botswana, including Head of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was appointed Vice Chancellor (a position equivalent to that of university president) in 2003 and served in that role until 2011. He currently serves as the Director of educational publisher Pearson Botswana, and Chairman of the Standard Chartered Bank Botswana.

Under his leadership, the University of Botswana expanded both in the size of its student body, now numbering over 17,000, and the programs it offers (currently over 130 in seven faculties). Dr. Otlhogile led efforts to expand the university鈥檚 focus from humanities and social sciences to include science and medicine programs. The latter, in particular, is part of an effort to provide local training of key professions. One route to establishing the University of Botswana鈥檚 faculties was to partner with institutions internationally. During his time at the university鈥檚 helm, Dr. Otlhogile fostered these relationships, working with 麻豆传媒鈥檚 School of Architecture to establish the University of Botswana鈥檚 own architecture program and with the University of Melbourne in Australia to establish its School of Medicine.

Dr. Otlhogile continues to be a leader in post-secondary education on his continent and beyond, fostering the leadership of others through his role as co-chairman of the Programme for Universities Leadership in Southern Africa. In recognition of his groundbreaking achievements, I ask you Mr. Chancellor, on behalf of Senate, to bestow upon Dr. Bojosi Otlhogile the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.