BIUST marked its 10th Graduation Ceremony with a message of pride, innovation, and transition, as Vice Chancellor Professor Otlogetswe Totolo delivered his final address before concluding his tenure in February 2026.
Prof. Totolo described the milestone as the realisation of an “audacious dream” that began a decade ago, to position Botswana beyond its reliance on natural resources and into the global knowledge economy. “Today, we witness not just the continuation of that dream, but its blossoming into reality,” he said.
This year, BIUST conferred 384 degrees, including 54 postgraduate qualifications, to students from Botswana and six other countries: eSwatini, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Prof. Totolo said this international mix reflects BIUST’s growing stature as a globally competitive institution.
The graduation theme, “Charting New Orbits: Igniting Innovation, Entrepreneurship, National Development and Pride,” underscored the University’s mission to expand frontiers. Prof. Totolo told graduates they were “pioneers standing at the launchpad of Botswana’s future,” urging them to embrace risk, creativity, and curiosity in a fast-changing world.
Highlighting BIUST’s role as a driver of national progress, the Vice Chancellor outlined partnerships with institutions such as the Botswana Innovation Hub, Morupule Coal Mine, BITRI, SEZA, LEA, the BDF, and CEDA, alongside international collaborations. He said the upcoming Technology Incubation Park would serve as a “launchpad for start-ups and industrial leaders of tomorrow.”
Prof. Totolo also reflected on BIUST’s global recognition, noting the University’s inclusion in the Times Higher Education World Rankings (1201–1500 band) and its role in the historic launch of Botswana’s first satellite, BOTSAT-1, earlier this year. “This project signifies nothing less than Botswana taking its place in the skies,” he declared.
Other milestones include producing Botswana’s first Master’s graduates in Drone Technology (all BDF officers), establishing advanced programmes in Satellite Engineering, hosting international research chairs, and expanding cultural exchange through the Confucius Institute.
In an emotional moment, Prof. Totolo acknowledged his upcoming departure after a decade of leadership, calling BIUST “a living classroom” that shaped him as much as he shaped it. He urged graduates to view their qualifications as a responsibility to lead, innovate, and contribute to national development.
“Carry your degree not just as a certificate of achievement but as a charter of responsibility,” he told the Class of 2025. “Be job creators, not only job seekers. Push frontiers that others fear to touch. Chart new orbits.”