BAC Hosts Open Days to Engage Stakeholders 2019
Botswana Accountancy College held an open day last week at their main campus in Gaborone to introduce the college and showcase its offering to prospective students, parents, teachers and industry.
In his welcome remarks, Deputy Executive Director of Academic Affairs, Dr Byron Brown asked the guests to consider BAC as a career partner as BAC is an institution of academic excellence. He said that the College organized the Open Day to allow prospective students to interact with staff, students and tour the campus to afford them the opportunity to appreciate the College and its offering. “We would like to partner with you in your career planning process and assist you carry your good BGCSE or IGCSE performance forward. We encourage you to join a culture of high performance,” he said and added.
Dr Brown further revealed that employers have expressed satisfaction with BAC graduates for job readiness and encouraged the students to consider BAC as the ideal career partner.
BAC Marketing Manager, Martha Moribame-Tabane gave an overview of the College. She said it started by offering professional accounting exclusively because of the need at the current economy but as the economy grew they had to introduce more programmes in areas of Business, Banking, Hospitality, Management and ICT.
“We have been able to deliver these programmes in collaboration with international professional bodies and UK based University of Derby, University of Sunderland and Sheffield Hallam University. These partnerships enable BAC students to benefit from the research, innovation and ICT resources enjoyed by their peers in the UK. Additionally, having lecturers fly in to teach in the Botswana campus adds to the overall learning experience,” Moribame-Tabane said.
With over 10,000 alumni already in industry, Mrs. Tabane said they not only train for employment but for business as well. Furthermore she said their experiential learning allows the students to also get technical skills that make them market ready.
Because the College cannot achieve its mandate in isolation, Mrs. Tabane said platforms such as the open day give College an opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders to get support and contributions.
BAC Registrar Mr. William Sekgatsa revealed to the prospective students and parents that failing to qualify for government funding is not the end. He said; “We look at your results for specific subjects and if they meet minimum requirements, a prospective student can be admitted and seek private sponsorship.”
Mr. Sekgatsa further called on parents to consider sponsoring their children. “We offer reasonable, friendly payment terms. You can pay for semesters as opposed to paying for the whole course,” he said.
The guests were taken on a campus tour after which they visited nearby stalls for more information.