Dr Faith Rapuleng-Tuelo*

Gaborone, Botswana -The University of Botswana (UB) will, at its 43rd Graduation Ceremony held at the UB Indoor Sports Centre on Thursday, 16th and Friday, 17th of October 2025, confer Doctoral Degrees, MPhil, Degrees, Diplomas and certificates to 3,539 graduands.

The first day of the ceremony will feature the conferment of Degrees for graduates from the Faculties of Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences while the second day will celebrate graduands from the Faculties of Education, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Medicine, and Science.

This year’s cohort represents a significant increase in overall graduate output compared to last year’s 2,681 graduands. Of the 3,539 graduands, 22 will receive Doctoral Degrees, 500 awarded MPhil and Master’s Degrees including Postgraduate Diplomas while 2,807 will graduate with undergraduate degrees with 218 attaining diplomas and certificates.

In the Certificate and Diploma category, 34 graduands achieved distinction, 70 earned merit while 114 attained credit or pass. Among the undergraduate Degree recipients, 198 graduated with first-class honours while 2,609 attained second-class or pass classifications.

Notably, postgraduate output has risen significantly year-on-year. PhDs increased from 12 in 2024 to 22 in 2025 while MPhil and Master’s Degree rose from 327 to 500 over the same period, a clear reflection of UB’s strengthened focus on advanced scholarship and research capacity.

Held under the theme “Empowering Futures: Advancing Human Dignity in the Digital Era,” this year’s graduation embodies that commitment, showcasing the University’s growing role in shaping knowledge-driven and research-oriented transformation.

The theme also speaks directly to UB’s strategic mission and to national priorities. As Botswana accelerates economic transformation under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), UB is intensifying its role as a High-Performance Organisation (HPO), sharpening its research agenda, deepening industry partnerships besides producing graduates equipped with the skills, ethics and creativity required for economic transformation.

Consequently, the growth in postgraduate output including the notable rise in doctoral awards, underscores the University’s deepening commitment to research excellence and to advancing both national and continental development goals.

The transformation aligns with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) strategic plan (2022–2027) which seeks to increase Africa’s research output by five (5) percent and produce 100,000 PhDs over the next decade.

By strengthening postgraduate training, promoting multidisciplinary research and expanding access to advanced studies, UB continues to position itself as a key driver of knowledge creation and innovation that upholds human dignity and supports Botswana’s transformation agenda.

In that regard, UB’s transformation mirrors Botswana’s broader national agenda, one anchored on human rights, inclusive growth and economic resilience. As the country navigates a shifting global economy marked by fluctuating diamond revenues, UB stands as a catalyst for innovation-driven growth and social progress.

Its evolution into a High-Performance Organisation is, therefore, not only institutional reform but a national imperative to generate the skills, knowledge and research needed to power the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and other developmental blueprints.

Meanwhile, among those sending messages of goodwill to the Class of 2025 are the President of the Republic of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko; Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Prince Maele; UB Chancellor, Ms Tebelelo Mazile Seretse; Chairperson of Council, Dr Daniel Tau and Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris.

About the University of Botswana

The University of Botswana is a leading institution of higher learning in Botswana, committed to providing quality education, research, and service to the nation and beyond. The University seeks to improve economic and social conditions for advancing itself as a distinctively African university with regional and international outlook.

Dr Faith Rapuleng-Tuelo* is the University of Botswana’s Director of Public Affairs