Uni open big new campus in F/town
Saturday marked a momentous day in Gaborone University College of Law and Professional Studies’ (GUC) 16-year history as the institution officially opened its brand new Francistown campus.
Located at Tati River Mall (behind Game), the latest addition to the GUC empire is a double-story building with 24 classrooms, a library, computer lab, boardroom, staff room and administration block.
Part of the facility includes what was Pablos nightclub; the sound of music and merriment will be replaced with lectures and learning.
GUC’s Francistown footprint dates back to 2016, when the tertiary institution opened its original campus in the city, opposite Botswana Life. With demand for places rocketing, the university opened a second branch the following year, along Patrick Street (next to the library).
Management has now decided to merge the two campuses, relocating to the bigger facility along the banks of the Tati River.
GUC’s visibly excited Managing Director (MD), Antoney Joseph described the move as a major milestone in both the school’s and the second city’s development.
“It is an exciting moment not only for us but to the city and people of Francistown as well. The new campus adds to the opportunity for further education and jobs for the people of this city,” he declared, urging Francistowners to take full advantage of the proximity of their programmes, which he stressed are generally affordable and flexible.
Highlighting GUC’s amazing growth, Joseph revealed that when the university first opened their doors in 2006, enrolment stood at less than 40 learners; today that number is approaching 3, 000.
“Of course, the numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on government’s sponsorship among other main factors but our teaching and learning facilities have grown to accommodate up to 10, 000 learners at any one year.”
As well as drastically increasing its intake, GUC has also added to the courses it offers.
“We have accordingly continued the path of increasing our physical infrastructure, diversifying of our programs from certificate and diploma levels to undergraduate and postgraduate degree levels. Furthermore we are currently working on development of a number of new master’s and doctoral degree programmes which we shall soon be presenting to BQA for accreditation,” said Joseph.
Meanwhile, Professor Bernard Moswela promised this was just the start of GUC’s Botswana expansion.
“The college management is contemplating opening another campus in Maun and one would might ask, ‘why so many campuses?’ It is the people’s appetite for education,” Moswela maintained happily.
Guest of Honour on the day, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Douglas Letsholathebe thanked GUC for bringing their services to the north of the country.
He noted their presence increases access to tertiary education for not just the people of Francistown but for residents from as far as Bobonong up the Chobe region.
“I have noted with appreciation that your college offer blended education programmes which promote both face-to-face and computer-based teaching and learning. This will increase access as many learners are mature and prefer to learn where they work or live rather than commute to classes away from their place of residence,” he said.
As well as the Francistown faculty, GUC has five campuses in Gaborone.