Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) have formalized a strategic partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen institutional collaboration, align qualifications with labour market needs, and advance Botswana's human capital development agenda.
The signing ceremony, held at BQA on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, was officiated by the Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Prince Maele, and attended by senior government officials, Board members and executive management from both institutions, as well as other distinguished guests.
The partnership seeks to strengthen coordination between qualifications development, quality assurance, skills planning and human resource development, recognising the complementary mandates of the two institutions in supporting Botswana's education, training and national development priorities.
Welcoming guests, BQA Board Chairperson, Mr Gabaake Gabaake, described the MoU as an important commitment towards developing a skilled, competent and productive nation. He emphasised that qualifications development must respond to labour market realities, while human resource development planning should be informed by credible qualifications, quality-assured learning pathways and reliable skills information.
He highlighted opportunities for improved information sharing, institutional coordination, resource optimisation and reduced duplication of efforts. He further called on both institutions to translate the agreement into practical actions and meaningful outcomes.
Delivering the keynote address, Honourable Maele described the partnership as an important milestone in promoting institutional efficiency, strengthening collaboration and improving the responsiveness of Botswana's education and training system.
He underscored the Government's commitment to the One Government principle, calling on institutions to share resources, leverage expertise and eliminate unnecessary duplication, particularly in the current challenging fiscal environment.
The Minister noted that BQA and HRDC have complementary responsibilities that provide a strong foundation for a more coordinated national human capital development system. BQA is responsible for maintaining the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF) and coordinating quality assurance for lifelong learning, while HRDC provides policy advice on
strategic human capital development and coordinates human resource development across the public and private sectors.
Honourable Maele acknowledged the institutions' existing collaboration in areas such as the development of the TVET Policy, Norms and Standards, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy, participation in governance structures, the annual Botswana Human Resource Development Skills Fair and Career Clinics, and student welfare support services.
He stressed the need for stronger alignment between skills supply and labour market demand, noting concerns about the mismatch between graduates' qualifications and available employment opportunities. He called for greater use of labour market intelligence, skills forecasting, qualifications data and employer feedback to identify current and emerging skills gaps and inform education and training priorities.
The Minister also highlighted the partnership's relevance to the development of the National Human Resource Development Strategy for 2026–2036, emphasising the need for a skilled, adaptable and competitive workforce capable of responding to changing economic demands.
He challenged both institutions to develop a joint implementation plan with clear responsibilities, timelines, deliverables and measurable performance indicators, stressing that the success of the MoU would ultimately be determined by its implementation and impact.
BQA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ofentse Disang, reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to strengthening cooperation with HRDC, noting that the effectiveness of the qualifications system depends on how well qualifications and competencies respond to the needs of the economy.
He identified improved alignment between qualifications and labour market needs, evidence-based decision-making, institutional efficiency, resource optimisation and strengthened stakeholder engagement as key areas of collaboration.
Mr Disang further noted that closer cooperation would enhance information exchange, strengthen qualifications and skills planning, and facilitate more coordinated engagement with employers, industry associations, professional bodies and education and training providers.
He emphasised that the partnership would focus on strengthening institutional complementarities rather than duplicating functions, with its success dependent on clear responsibilities, effective information-sharing mechanisms and regular monitoring of progress.
In his closing remarks, HRDC Board Vice Chairperson, Mr Odirile Motlhale, commended the leadership and teams of both institutions for their commitment towards formalising the
partnership. He urged them to translate the MoU into tangible actions and sustain the momentum towards achieving meaningful outcomes.
The signing of the MoU marks an important step towards strengthening the relationship between qualifications, quality assurance, skills planning and human resource development in Botswana.
Through this partnership, BQA and HRDC aim to improve the relevance of qualifications, strengthen evidence-based human capital planning and support a more responsive education and training system.
Ultimately, the collaboration seeks to ensure that investments in education and training translate into relevant skills, improved employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, and a workforce that contributes meaningfully to Botswana's economic transformation and national development.