The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) yesterday launched the BIUST Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme, a pioneering initiative developed under the Botswana Government and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Collaboration. The Fellowship marks a major milestone in Botswana’s ongoing journey to build an innovation-driven economy anchored on science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The year-long programme is designed to equip 16 outstanding BIUST students with practical venture-building experience, mentorship, leadership training, and market access opportunities. Through this initiative, the University aims to nurture a new generation of innovation-driven entrepreneurs capable of transforming ideas into viable businesses that create jobs and contribute to national development.
Delivered in collaboration with the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, a leading academic hub at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Fellowship offers fellows a world-class experiential learning journey. Participants will benefit from expert mentorship, local and international ecosystem tours, guest lectures, and two biennial pitch nights designed to showcase innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.
Speaking during the launch, BIUST Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo described the Fellowship as a bold step toward realising BIUST’s founding vision of transforming Botswana through science, technology, and innovation.
He explained that the Fellowship will expose students to MIT’s globally recognised innovation frameworks, including the Stakeholder Framework for Building and Accelerating Innovation Ecosystems and The New Calculus for Global Growth Market Prosperity.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ms. Nomakgosi Mookodi commended BIUST and MIT for aligning the programme with Botswana’s national policy agenda on entrepreneurship and youth empowerment.
Ms. Mookodi further noted that under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Duma Boko, the Government of Botswana is driving a bold new direction through the Economic Transformation Plan.
“Through the Economic Transformation Programme Labs, we are engaging academia, the private sector and development partners to identify practical solutions that will unlock Botswana’s full economic potential,” she added.
Representing the Ministry of Higher Education, Permanent Secretary Professor Agreement Jotia highlighted that Botswana’s economic future lies in the creativity, knowledge, and problem-solving abilities of its people. He added that the Fellowship draws inspiration from MIT’s globally acclaimed Foundry Fellowship, adapting its model to suit Botswana’s unique developmental context and opportunities.
Dr. Haitham Khoury, Director of Student Programs at the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, commended Botswana’s growing innovation landscape and the country’s strong commitment to youth entrepreneurship.
He explained that the Fellowship is part of a five-year partnership between the Government of Botswana and the MIT Kuo Sharper Center, reflecting a shared commitment to accelerate Botswana’s transition from a mineral-based to a knowledge-based economy by empowering a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders. He added that this collaboration represents more than an academic partnership , it is a statement of purpose.
Professor Patricia Makepe, Dean of the School of Business and Professional Development, emphasised that the Fellowship represents BIUST’s strategic role in linking science, entrepreneurship, and industry.
She underscored that BIUST’s School of Business and Professional Development serves as the bridge between scientific research and market application. “We see ourselves as the connective tissue that translates scientific discovery into commercial opportunity,” she explained. “Through this Fellowship, we aim to equip our students with the entrepreneurial mindset, tools, and networks to turn their knowledge into market solutions.”
Prof. Makepe added that the collaboration with MIT is embedding entrepreneurship not as a subject but as a culture within BIUST , one that celebrates experimentation, risk-taking, and meaningful impact.
The launch of the BIUST Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme marks a defining moment in the University’s mission to advance innovation and enterprise-led development.