The Botswana International University of Science and Technology has provided update to the public on its move to permanent home in Palapye, a town in central part of Botswana. BIUST officially received the keys to the campus earlier this month and has begun the relocation from the Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology to Palapye.
However, BIUST says the new campus does not have adequate facilities and infrastructure to accommodate both the current students and the anticipated intake for the next semester. “The existing sewage treatment system does not have the capacity to treat waste from the number of students and staff that will be occupying the campus upon opening. This has necessitated the provision of additional classroom, laboratory and residential facilities and expansion of the sewage treatment system prior to the relocation,” says BIUST.
The university says the process of constructing the required additional facilities and expanding the sewage treatment system has begun and is scheduled to be completed by November 2013. “Because the additional facilities and infrastructure will not be completed and commissioned in time for the 19th of August start date of the 2013-14 Academic year, the University will commence teaching classes at its current temporary campus in Oodi for the first semester only.”
The first semester classes will conclude in December 2013 and BIUST will begin the second semester of its academic year in Palapye on the 3rd of February 2014. A staged relocation of BIUST has begun and will be fully implemented by the beginning of the second semester of classes in February 2014. 
BIUST added that the Minister of Education and Skills Development last week approved the appointment of the next Vice Chancellor, upon recommendation of the BIUST Council. The new VC is expected to join BIUST prior to the beginning of the next academic year.
The current Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration, Dr. Shabani Ndzinge, will assume the post of Acting Vice Chancellor on the 10th of May, when the current Acting VC, Prof. Steven Howell leaves Botswana. Dr. Ndzinge will continue Acting until the new Vice Chancellor takes up post.
The University wishes to thank its stakeholders for their continued support and commitment.
