UB’s New Space Science Center Aims to Lead Africa in 4IR with Global Partnerships

University of Botswana (UB) has launched a Center of Excellence in Planetary, Space Science and Technology as part of the FAST4Future project. The initiative, developed in collaboration with various institutions of higher learning and industry partners, is aimed at promoting research in planetary and space science while serving as a hub for interdisciplinary education and collaboration.

According to Dr Rapelang Simon, a Professor at the University of Botswana, the FAST4Future project is a virtual entity designed to offer specialised courses, training programmes and workshops by ensuring accessibility to all learners. Its mission includes providing remote and inclusive learning pathways that promote equality in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in higher education. The project encompasses four thematic research areas: planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, space technology and citizen science.

Moreover, the Center of Excellence aims to enhance internationalisation strategies for African institutions, fostering South-South collaborations among various partners across the continent.

Speaking at the launch, UB Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, underscored the importance of Planetary and Space Science and Technology (PSST) in embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). He noted that the fields equipped graduates and young scientists with essential skills required to address 21st Century challenges, including digital innovation and higher-skilled job opportunities.

Africa has missed a number of revolutions. We missed the first industrial revolution, the second and the third. We cannot afford to miss the fourth.

Professor David Norris, Vice Chancellor, UB

Professor Norris highlighted the clear synergies with the University Strategy 2020–2029, which is themed “Creating a Future for Knowledge Generation”. Therefore, FAST4Future project aligns with UB’s mandate as a premier institution of teaching, learning, research, innovation and national service.

Funded by the European Union (EU) through the Erasmus+ Programme for Capacity Building in Higher Education, FAST4Future serves as a testimony to the transformative power of STEM in Africa’s higher education landscape. The project’s mission is to foster sustainable growth and job creation in a continent that is rapidly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Botswana and SADC, Ambassador Petra Pereya, reiterated the EU’s commitment to supporting education and science in Africa, including Botswana. She observed that education, research and skills development were at the core of the EU’s partnership with the continent. At the 6th EU-Africa Summit in February 2022, the EU unveiled the Global Gateway Africa-Europe investment package aimed at creating better living conditions across Africa.

The Centre of Excellence in Planetary and Space Science and Technology has established partnerships with several leading institutions, including Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Copperbelt University in Zambia, University of Zambia, University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa, University of Nigeria, Air Force Institute of Technology in Nigeria, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna in Italy, KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, AAC Space Africa (PTY) Ltd in South Africa, South African National Space Agency (SANSA), and the National Space Research and Development Agency (CBSS) in Nigeria.