EIT’s recently launched Botswana Learning Hub has already started strengthening connections with existing and potential students, partners, and industries across Southern Africa. Discover how this new space is set to accelerate skills development and expand access to world-class engineering training where it’s needed most.

Expanding Presence and Deepening Local Connections

The Engineering Institute of Technology (EIT) recently took a major step in advancing engineering education across Africa with the launch of its new Botswana Learning Hub on 4 April 2025.

Located at the Botswana Digital & Innovation Hub in Gaborone, this satellite office reflects EIT’s growing commitment to supporting students and industry throughout Southern Africa.

This initiative and extension of EIT’s global presence, which is headquartered in Perth, Australia and operates across several continents. The Botswana Hub acts as a gateway for professionals, employers, and prospective students to connect more closely with EIT’s educational offerings.

EIT Recruitment and Business Development Manager for Africa and the Middle East, Berry Dikotla, spent a week in Botswana to meet with existing and potential business partners, industry leaders, EIT graduates, and prospective students.

“The visit was key in helping us understand what Botswana’s industries need,” Dikotla shared. “It also gave us a chance to build relationships, identify training gaps, and show our commitment to local workforce development.”

These engagements allowed EIT to connect with the full spectrum of the engineering pipeline: from experienced professionals looking to reskill, to future engineers just beginning their career journey. For Dikotla, the face-to-face conversations were invaluable in shaping how EIT continues to tailor its support across Africa.

The local presence is designed not just to support EIT’s students, but to serve as a regional hub for collaboration, training, and innovation that benefits engineers and employers across Southern Africa.

Empowering Botswana’s Key Growth Sectors

Botswana’s economy relies heavily on mining, water utilities, and infrastructure; sectors that demand technical expertise, practical problem-solving, and up-to-date engineering knowledge.

EIT is uniquely positioned to contribute in these areas through its tailored engineering programs, which span industrial automation, electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering.

“Our programs align well with what Botswana needs,” said Dikotla. “We train professionals to manage, maintain, and innovate in critical industries like mining and water utilities, ensuring they’re ready to meet both local and global standards.”

Through flexible delivery modes (including online, blended, and remote lab-based learning) EIT supports working professionals without requiring them to step away from their jobs. This accessibility is especially important in regions where upskilling must fit into tight operational schedules.

The Botswana Learning Hub will also serve as a contact point for employers seeking professional development for their teams. As local industries expand and adopt new technologies, EIT aims to be the training partner that helps companies stay competitive and compliant.

For students, the hub offers a pathway to internationally accredited qualifications and access to a global alumni network. For employers, it’s a source of skilled, adaptable talent ready to contribute to both local and international projects.

Fostering Partnerships That Drive Progress

Beyond education, EIT’s strategy in Africa is rooted in forming enduring partnerships with businesses, industry associations, and government bodies. Dikotla’s recent visit to Botswana focused heavily on initiating and strengthening these relationships, especially within the mining and water utility sectors.

“We’re not just here to offer training,” Dikotla explained. “We’re here to co-create solutions with our partners; whether that’s a customized short course, a strategic skills development plan, or participation in an industry event.”

EIT has built long-term partnerships through regular engagement, tailored learning solutions, and attendance at engineering exhibitions and networking events. This ongoing interaction ensures that EIT remains connected to market realities and can respond with agility.

With the Gaborone hub now open, EIT has a physical base for hosting seminars, consultations, and on-site training. The presence of the hub will help deepen trust with local partners and simplify coordination for collaborative projects.

By focusing on sustained relationships rather than one-time transactions, EIT helps to future-proof Botswana’s engineering workforce and support broader national development goals.

Positioning Botswana as Regional Knowledge Hub

Botswana’s geographic location gives it strategic importance in Southern Africa. By establishing a Learning Hub in Gaborone, EIT is creating a central point for regional outreach, training delivery, and student support; all with an eye toward long-term, sustainable growth.

“Botswana is ideal for regional collaboration,” said Dikotla. “This hub helps us support students more effectively, which is something we value deeply. As our Dean of Engineering, Dr. Steve Mackay, always says: ‘Our students are sovereign.’ That mindset informs everything we do.”

This regional presence offers far more than convenience, it demonstrates EIT’s long-term commitment to developing African engineering talent. With an on-the-ground team and localized insight, EIT can now develop programs that address industry-specific challenges and goals across Southern Africa.

Among upcoming plans are customized short courses and specialized programs tailored to Botswana’s most urgent skills needs, particularly in the mining and water utility sectors. These offerings will be co-designed with local partners to ensure they’re immediately applicable in real-world settings.

By positioning Gaborone as a hub of engineering education and collaboration, EIT is laying the groundwork for a more connected, skilled, and resilient engineering workforce across Africa.