THE NATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (NHRD) CONFERENCE 2019 SUCCESSFULLY HELD

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), successfully held the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) Conference from the 22nd -– 23rd May 2019 in Gaborone, Botswana at the Gaborone International Conference Centre (GICC). The theme of the Conference was, ‘Competitive Human Resource - A Leading Driver for the Economy in the 21st Century’.

The main objective of the NHRD Conference was to provide a platform for information sharing between Human Resource Development (HRD) stakeholders on best practice and innovations for transformation to a knowledge-based economy and to present an opportunity for trainers, educators, learners, employers, public and private organisations to display their products and services related to human capital development.

 In line with the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS), presentations addressed the following sub-themes: Relevant Education and Skills for Employability and Entrepreneurship; Sustainable Financing for Human Resource Development.The Relevant Education and Skills for Employability and Entrepreneurship sub-theme addressed issues relating to labour market demand and supply, entrepreneurship development and employment creation and research and innovation for economic diversification.The Sustainable Financing for National Human Resource Development subtheme addressed issues relating to innovative higher education funding models for Africa, Cost-Benefit Analysis for educational policy in developing countries alongside the financing and accessibility of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Targeted audience and participants for the NHRD Conference included research luminaries, learners, publishers, employers and many other stakeholders within the research landscape. The Conference was delivered in collaboration with various stakeholders. A call for abstracts was issued locally and internationally.

Welcoming the Conference participants, the then Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoTe), Honourable Thapelo Olopeng said, “We have in our midst different experts from various backgrounds to deliberate on issues that can help our country to move towards a knowledge based economy. Some of these speakers and delegates come from different countries, which is a great indication that social and human capital are important in helping us to achieve this transformation agenda. I want to take this opportunity to welcome all our speakers more especially foreign speakers and delegates to this Conference.”

Officially Opening the Conference on behalf of His Honour The Vice President Of the Republic of Botswana Mr Slumber Tsogwane, Hon Nonofo Molefhi, who was the then Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration said, “This theme is therefore more relevant than ever as it urges us to adopt a unified and coordinated approach to produce workforce anchored on investment in education and skills development for employability and entrepreneurship while we pursue sustainable financing of human capital development.” He further said that to undertake meaningful and informed research as a nation, we need to establish and maintain up to date systems and databases on the labour market, education and training including profiling of human capital. The Minister stated that the Government is currently working on developing a Labour Market Observatory (LMO) that monitors labour market patterns and trends.

Hon Molefhi further said, “This Conference is a key step to realisation of this commitment. I implore all of you and indeed the whole nation to continuously exploit to the fullest, your knowledge capacities and capabilities.” The Chief Executive Officer of HRDC, Dr Raphael Dingalo delivered a presentation on Human Capital Development and The Drive to a Knowledge Economy. Addressing the Conference attendants, Dr Raphael Dingalo said, the Council is mandated to support the Government’s agenda of transforming Botswana from a middle income to a high-income status as well as necessitate its transition from a resource -based to a knowledge - based economy.

He said to achieve this goal, we need to pay close attention to the time frame as well as have the right strategies and plans for it to be achieved. “Transformation from a resource - based economy to a knowledge-based economy is not something we can obtain overnight, but we need to put in desired mechanisms to be able to reach our destination. We need to strengthen our funding and invest in teachers. The challenge we have is that teachers are lowly paid. There is need for harmonious working relations between Government, parastatals, trade unions and others. There is also need to focus on creativity and innovation as they are paramount and also to invest in research institutions,” says Dr Dingalo.

In partnership with the private sector, Stanbic Bank Botswana, positively heeded HRDC’s call by coming upfront and sponsored the event to the tune of P250 000.00. “In our collaboration with HRDC, we acknowledge the fact that no single individual or institution can in isolation create the impact and reach that is needed to address the issue of youth employability. There is an urgent call for collaboration to drive a national agenda where we get like-minded corporates and institutions to collaborate with HRDC to address this problem. This collaboration is a viable force to support and deliver on its mandate," said Stanbic Bank Chief Executive, Mr Sam Minta.

The two-day Conference was well attended with over 400 delegates. The diverse stakeholders who attended the Conference included; education and training luminaries, employers, the public and private sector. The Conference culminated in Mr Vusi Thembakwayo, a renowned South African motivational speaker urging Conference attendants to implore new ways of thinking and adapting to new ways of doing things more so that we are living in the Fourth (4th) Industrial revolution.

He said, “I have listened to the majority of speakers outlining their solutions towards building Botswana to become a winning nation or a nation at work with its people employed in high skill high- value jobs. In order for Botswana to achieve this, there is need for action, that is we need to move forward and espouse ways of advancing the human capital agenda thereby realising the knowledge-based economy aspirations.”

 He further said we stand on the brink of a technological revolution that has fundamentally altered the way we live, work, and relate to one another. We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear: the response to it must be integrated and comprehensive, that is involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors to academia and civil society. The event was sponsored by Stanbic Bank Botswana (Platinum Sponsor), Fairground Holdings (Service Sponsor), Medical Rescue International (Service Sponsor), Boitekanelo College (Service Sponsor), Weekend Post (Media Sponsor) and Duma FM (Media Sponsor).

News Date: 
Thursday, May 23, 2019