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The Botho Vision

Botho University Lesotho aspires to be an integral player in building an economically diversified, fast growing, and prosperous Lesotho, built on integrity, excellence, inclusiveness and financial viability.

The Botho Mission

Botho University Lesotho will produce well-rounded, entrepreneurial, and globally employable graduates with the attitude, knowledge, skills and competencies to create value and drive productivity increases needed to catalyze sustainable economic growth. The University is committed to long-term stakeholder satisfaction through continuous quality improvement, financial viability, and culture of integrity, excellence and inclusiveness in all its activities including its leadership, teaching, research, consulting, and community services.

We produce quality graduates who propagate the growth and development of our region.
  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Prof. Naomi Mmapelo Seboni (Chair of Council)
    Jay Ramesh

    Prof. Naomi Mmapelo Seboni

    (Chair of Council)

    A Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife, Naomi Mmapelo Seboni (PhD) is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of the WHO Collaborating Center (WHOCC) for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Sub Saharan Africa at the University of Botswana’s School of Nursing. She started her career at the UB in 1981 as a Staff Development Fellow in the then Department of Nursing Education and rose through the ranks over the years, including stints as Senior Lecturer and as Head of the School of Nursing. Over the years, she has published various articles, on the development and training of nurses and midwives, in reputable journals. In 2014, she received an award from the Nurses Association of Botswana for her contribution to nursing and midwifery in Botswana, and in 2006, the University of California-San Francisco selected her among faculty and former students to be on their 100 years of School of Nursing Existence Wall of Fame.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Dr. Priya Iyer (Pro-Vice-Chancellor)
    Jay Ramesh

    Dr. Priya Iyer

    (Pro-Vice-Chancellor)

    Mrs Priya Iyer is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Employability, for Botho University. Her responsibilities include driving the employability and entrepreneurship agenda of the graduates of the University through various initiatives coordinated through the Student and Alumni Affairs Department. Graduate placements, student internships, Entrepreneurship Lab and engagement with industry through the Industry Reference Forums are part of her portfolio. She also oversees the Finance, Human Resources and Technology departments. Iyer is a Chartered Accountant by profession and was the first woman to be elected as the President of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). She has been engaged by the World Bank as a short-term consultant to help draft the rules and regulations for BICA. Additionally, she was a member of the Professional Accounting Organisation Development Advisory group for 6 years and served as the Deputy Chair for the last two years. She has a Bachelor's in Commerce from the University of Calicut, Kerala India and is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in higher education, the research area being graduate employability.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Viswanathan Sankaranarayanan (Academic Board Representative)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Viswanathan Sankaranarayanan

    (Academic Board Representative)

    Viswanathan Sankaranarayanan has over 14 years of vast experience gained in 14 years of academic experience in the Higher Education field as an Assistant Professor, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, and Assessment Manager in India and Botswana, blended with experience in the software industry as a Software Developer. He has strong interpersonal and communication skills, a very accessible and warm person which adds to his ability to efficiently lead diverse teams. Educational Qualification: · Undergoing (PhD), in the area of Educational Data Mining, Bharathiar University, India 2018- Present · M.Phil in Computer Science from Periyar University, India, 2010-2011. · Master of Computer Application from Indira Gandhi National University, India, 2000-2003. · Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, (1994-1999).

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Dr. Sheela Raja Ram (Vice-Chancellor & Managing Director)
    Jay Ramesh

    Dr. Sheela Raja Ram

    (Vice-Chancellor & Managing Director)

    Dr Sheela Raja Ram is the Vice-Chancellor and Managing Director of Botho University. Under her visionary leadership, the institution grew from a training institution to a full-fledged university in a short span of 16 years. She has been responsible for the development and implementation of two key strategic plans that have given Botho University an impeccable reputation in Botswana for quality education delivery. As the Vice-Chancellor, she is highly focused on quality student experiences through continual improvement in academic delivery. She is also highly keen on providing other supporting activities at Botho University aimed at producing an employable graduate. Sheela has been instrumental in the growth and development of the two large consulting organisations in Botswana, namely Acumen Enterprises (now officially a part of the Big 5 Consulting firm, Grant Thornton) and RPC Data. She has also provided business and IT consulting services to a large number of corporate clients, including the Government of Botswana. Sheela holds an MSc in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and a Doctor of Education (Higher Education), EdD, from the University of Liverpool, UK.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Kate Senye (Non-Executive Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Kate Senye

    (Non-Executive Member)

    Kate Senye is a Non-Executive Member of the Botho University Board of Directors with more than 18 years post qualification experience working as a development economist and investment analyst. As the CEO of Southern Africa Media Development Fund (Samdef), a venture capital fund that focuses on financing and developing media projects in Southern and East Africa, Kate was exposed to working closely with regional and international development agencies at strategic and operational levels. One of her major roles had been the negotiation of further funding of the Samdef by development finance institutions as well as developing a sustainable model for the institution that would allow little or no reliance on governments and donor funding. As an economist working for the Botswana Government she was actively involved in managing development and consultancy projects, mostly for international organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, WHO, SIDA, GTZ, UNICEF and UNDP. Seconded to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Affairs, she was actively involved in managing several key development projects. In April 2012 she moved on to pursue her own business interests. She is currently the Managing Director of The Workforce Group Botswana (TWG). TWG Botswana, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of staff outsourcing, recruitment and specialist staffing, training and consulting, financial services and employee health management, among others. TWG Botswana was set up in March 2018. Her main role is to roll out all the Workforce Holdings clusters in the Botswana market. As the managing director and reporting to the board of directors, she provides market insights and strategic advice, developing and implementing business plans to improve cost efficiency, maintaining positive and trust-based relations with business partners, shareholders and authorities as well as overseeing the company’s business operations and financial performance.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Leo Hailey (Staff Representative)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Leo Hailey

    (Staff Representative)

    Mr Leo Hailey has a BSc (Hons) in Computing from Teesside University and is presently doing MBA at Botho University. Leo was the first recipient of Botho University's most prestigious honour, the Spirit of Botho Award and is a Lead Auditor (ISO 9001:2015) at the Gaborone Campus. His expertise includes Quality Management, International Business Development, and Accreditation in Higher Education. He was a board member at "Now for Them Trust", and helped acquire US government funding to educate young aspiring leaders, particularly women and girls, in rural Botswana.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Mohlabi K. Tsekoa (Council Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Mohlabi K. Tsekoa

    (Council Member)

    Mohlabi Kenneth Tsekoa has served as a Cabinet Minister across various ministries within the government of Lesotho, including Finance, Education, and Foreign Affairs, the latter his last cabinet position, in which he served from 2007-2015. He has also held diplomatic positions, such as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ambassador to Ireland, Spain and Portugal. Early in his public service career, Tsekoa served in various capacities within the Ministry of Education, including positions of Principal Secretary and Deputy Principal Secretary within the Ministry.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Orefitlhetse ‘Ore’ Catherine Masire (Council Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Orefitlhetse ‘Ore’ Catherine Masire

    (Council Member)

    Mrs Orefitlhetse ‘Ore’ Catherine Masire holds a Masters degree in Strategic Management (University of Derby) and a BSc. in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Auburn University, USA. Her professional career can be characterised as one of service to the small and medium-sized business sector of Botswana. While she was at the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry, and Manpower (BOCCIM), she pioneered national training programmes for the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) community, managed the BOCCIM – United States Agency for International Development (USAID) relationship and spearheaded the delivery of the USAID enabled Botswana Workforce and Skills Training programme and Private Enterprise Development Project. In 2001, Ore founded The Office Manager, a nationally distributed publication for which she served as Executive Editor. She is currently Founding Director of Career Diversity, offering human resource consulting services at a national level, and a Shareholder / Director at Laurelton Diamonds Botswana, a DeBeers Sightholder. She holds other Executive roles of various entities like Women In Business Association, Labor and Immigrants Selection Board, BOTA Quality Assurance Board, University Of Botswana Foundation Dinner Committee(till 2010), Botswana Defense Force Women’s Club President(till July 2012), Catholic Women’s League and Botho University Advisory Council member, Stanbic Bank Board member.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Prof. Paul Evans (Council Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Prof. Paul Evans

    (Council Member)

    As an Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior, Paul Evans also holds The Shell Chair of Human Resources and Organizational Development, Emeritus. Paul Evans has a PhD in Management and Organizational Psychology from MIT, an MBA from INSEAD, and he is a graduate in law from Cambridge University. He is an Academic Director of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index, in partnership with HCLI Singapore and Adecco. For many years, he built up and directed INSEAD's Executive Education seminars on Management of People and Human Resource Management in Asia, as well as Managerial Skills for International Business. For many years, he led INSEAD's activities in the field of international human resource management, and he has been a Chair of the Organizational Behavior faculty area for successive periods. British by nationality, raised in Africa, and international by orientation, he has taught courses at Boston University, MIT, l'Université de Montréal, Stockholm School of Economics, the University of Zurich, and Cornell University, as well as spent a year as a visiting scholar at the University of Southern California and as a Visiting Professor at London Business School

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Mocks Shikalepo (Council Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Mocks Shikalepo

    (Council Member)

    Mr Mocks Shikalepo Shivute was a long-serving public servant until his retirement in 1981. He is a founding Editor-in-Chief of the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa), 1990-1999; thereafter served as a Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1999-2004; Permanent Secretary National Planning Commission in the Office of the President, 2005-2010; and finally served as the Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Secretariat for eight consecutive years, 2010-2018. He holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from Belarusian State University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies, Legon University of Ghana.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Jay Ramesh (Chairman)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Jay Ramesh

    (Chairman)

    Mr Jay Ramesh is Co-founder and non-executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Botho University (BU) & Group Institutions. BU is a leading private university with campuses in Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini and Namibia as well as a Blended and Distance Learning Campus. Jay has also been a Managing Partner of Grant Thornton, an accounting firm currently ranked the third largest in Botswana. He became the Managing Partner at Grant Thornton in 2000 after having worked in all firm divisions where he played a lead role in forging an international affiliation for this locally established firm. Jay holds a degree in Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Madras, India in 1979, where he later qualified as a Chartered Accountant and acquired a wealth of experience in the accounting sphere. He is an alumnus of Said Business School, Oxford University where he completed a Senior Leadership Programme on Organisational Leadership and also a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants. It is this vast experience and qualifications that have afforded him the opportunity to sit in various Boards and committees across government and the private sector such as chair of the Government Audit Committee from July 2016 to June 2021, Non-Executive Director of Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited since March 2021, Member of the Board of Governors of Grant Thornton International, and past chairman of Business Botswana committee for the Trade and Industry sector of the High-Level Consultative Council (HLCC), among many others. He played a key role in strengthening the presence of Grant Thornton in the African Region from a presence in 11 countries in 2009 to being established in 24 countries by 2018, where he was the bridge between Grant Thornton International and the Firms. Jay is also playing leadership roles in social organisations involved in charitable activities for the welfare of the local community

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Raja Ram (Pro-Chancellor )
    Jay Ramesh

    Raja Ram

    (Pro-Chancellor )

    Mr Raja Ram is the Pro-Chancellor of Botho University. He is a Chartered Accountant and since 1980 he has been the Managing Partner and President of Grant Thornton, an accounting firm currently ranked the third largest in Botswana with a present staff complement of 148, including 99 Batswana. The firm was started under the name of Acumen in 1976 and became a Botswana member of Grant Thornton International in 1992. Ram acquired the practice in 1980 with nine clients in a single room rented office and no employees. Since then, he has actively championed the employment, training, and personal development of a substantial citizen workforce and spearheaded the organisation's phenomenal growth. He has also been the General Manager and Director of Leo Enterprises, an Indian-based Pharmaceutical Distributor, since 1976 and was responsible for the development of this organisation from a value of Rs.1 million to Rs.8 million. It is currently the largest Pharmaceutical Logistics Company in Kerala, India.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Dr. Sheela Raja Ram (Vice-Chancellor & Managing Director)
    Jay Ramesh

    Dr. Sheela Raja Ram

    (Vice-Chancellor & Managing Director)

    Dr Sheela Raja Ram is the Vice-Chancellor and Managing Director of Botho University. Under her visionary leadership, the institution grew from a training institution to a full-fledged university in a short span of 16 years. She has been responsible for the development and implementation of two key strategic plans that have given Botho University an impeccable reputation in Botswana for quality education delivery. As the Vice-Chancellor, she is highly focused on quality student experiences through continual improvement in academic delivery. She is also highly keen on providing other supporting activities at Botho University aimed at producing an employable graduate. Sheela has been instrumental in the growth and development of the two large consulting organisations in Botswana, namely Acumen Enterprises (now officially a part of the Big 5 Consulting firm, Grant Thornton) and RPC Data. She has also provided business and IT consulting services to a large number of corporate clients, including the Government of Botswana. Sheela holds an MSc in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, and a Doctor of Education (Higher Education), EdD, from the University of Liverpool, UK.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. Ravi Srinivasan (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Internationalization and Communications)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. Ravi Srinivasan

    (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Internationalization and Communications)

    Mr Ravi Srinivasan is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Internationalization and Communication for Botho University. He is responsible for providing strong leadership, strategic direction and management for the effective running of a highly complex Directorate. He is also responsible for increasing student enrolments for Botho University over the years, including international students. His excellent people management skills have ensured that Botho University enjoys immense credibility with all key stakeholders, including Botswana Government. He is also responsible for the expansion plans of Botho University in the SADC region. Ravi has over 25 years of experience at the Senior Management level with a proven track record in stakeholder management, strategic management, crisis management, media planning, advertising, and brand promotion. He holds a Master's degree in Business Leadership (MBL) from the University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa and a Bachelor's in Commerce (BCom) from Madras University, India. He is currently pursuing his doctoral studies.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Ananth Raja Ram (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Strategy)
    Jay Ramesh

    Ananth Raja Ram

    (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Strategy)

    Mr Ananth Ram is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Strategy at Botho University. He holds overall responsibility for drafting the University's strategy plan, overseeing its implementation, ensuring alignment between resources and strategic goals, and monitoring and reviewing the strategy on a regular basis. He is a Director at the Enko Botho International Secondary School in Botswana and is the founding Chairperson of Angel Network Botswana – a network of business angels focused on investing in and supporting startups and entrepreneurs in Botswana. Ananth graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree double majoring in Integrated Sciences and Computer Information Systems from Northwestern University (USA) and has an MBA from INSEAD (France/Singapore). He has also completed the Senior Executive Program Africa from Harvard Business School (USA) and Gordon Institute of Business Science (South Africa). His career started as a software developer and includes a stint as a commodities broker but has primarily been in education with a focus on academic administration, quality assurance and strategic planning. Ananth is passionate about his family (nuclear, extended and his dog), education, youth/children, camping and cricket.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Priya Iyer (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of People and Impact)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Priya Iyer

    (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of People and Impact)

    Mrs Priya Iyer is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, People and Impact, for Botho University. She oversees the Botho University Community Initiative, Human Resources, Corporate Training and Partnerships. Iyer is a Chartered Accountant by profession and was the first woman to be elected as the President of the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA). She won the most votes ever polled by a Council member when she was elected and in her position as BICA President, she established good networks with other professional institutions around the world such as the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the World Bank. She has a Bachelor's in Commerce from the University of Calicut, Kerala India and is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in higher education, the research area being graduate employability.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Aditya Raja Ram (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Infrastructure)
    Jay Ramesh

    Aditya Raja Ram

    (Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Infrastructure)

    Mr Aditya Raja Ram is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Estates and Infrastructure for Botho University. Since joining the Botho team in 2007, he has been responsible for the rapid infrastructure growth of the institution. He has worked on various projects in the Maldives, South Africa, India, the USA and Botswana and has considerable experience in consulting and real estate management and development. Aditya has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in International Hospitality Management from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland. He has been awarded the coveted EHL Spirit award for his contribution to the institution and its members. He also holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, New York, USA. His research interests are Student Housing Management as well as Campus Development and Construction Technology.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Dorcas Kgosietsile (Non-Executive member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Dorcas Kgosietsile

    (Non-Executive member)

    Mrs. Dorcas Kgosietsile is a Non-Executive Member of the Botho University Board of Directors. She has extensive experience gained over 16 years with Botswana Development Corporation Ltd. (BDC) in overall business administration, investment analysis and economic issues through financial/asset management in various sectors and over a wide range of projects and industries. She was Botswana's first resident Ambassador to India, but before joining the Diplomatic Corp, she was managing and leading consultant of Business Clinic (Pty) Ltd. Alongside consultancy, she was a Director of Botswana Insurance Holdings Ltd (Botswana Insurance Fund Management Limited (BIFM), BLIL and First National Bank of Botswana Boards. On these Boards, she served in functional committees such as Audit, credit/risk and investment/asset management. She was also on the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) and the National Development Bank (NDB). She directed several smaller firms in formations, restructures and investment options as well as resources management. Kgosietsile is currently Director of the six Botswana incorporated subsidiaries of FSG Limited; Non-Executive Director of Choppies Ltd group; and Non-Executive Independent Director of First National Bank Botswana (FNBB), all listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mr. David Magang (Non-Executive member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mr. David Magang

    (Non-Executive member)

    Mr David Magang is a member of the Botho University Advisory Council who has been a successful entrepreneur and served as the Director of several companies, including Phakalane Estates (Pty) Ltd. as Chairman of the Group. A lawyer by profession, he holds an LLB (Hon.) and has served as an Attorney under his private law firm Magang and Co from 1970 to date. Through the successful creation of Phakalane, he became the first citizen township developer despite various obstacles presented by authorities and financial institutions. During his public service career spanning more than two decades, he served as the Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the Minister of Minerals and Water Affairs and the Minister of Works, Transport and Communications twice

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Kate Senye (Non-Executive Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Kate Senye

    (Non-Executive Member)

    Kate Senye is a Non-Executive Member of the Botho University Board of Directors with more than 18 years post qualification experience working as a development economist and investment analyst. As the CEO of Southern Africa Media Development Fund (Samdef), a venture capital fund that focuses on financing and developing media projects in Southern and East Africa, Kate was exposed to working closely with regional and international development agencies at strategic and operational levels. One of her major roles had been the negotiation of further funding of the Samdef by development finance institutions as well as developing a sustainable model for the institution that would allow little or no reliance on governments and donor funding. As an economist working for the Botswana Government she was actively involved in managing development and consultancy projects, mostly for international organizations such as the World Bank, USAID, WHO, SIDA, GTZ, UNICEF and UNDP. Seconded to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Affairs, she was actively involved in managing several key development projects. In April 2012 she moved on to pursue her own business interests. She is currently the Managing Director of The Workforce Group Botswana (TWG). TWG Botswana, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of staff outsourcing, recruitment and specialist staffing, training and consulting, financial services and employee health management, among others. TWG Botswana was set up in March 2018. Her main role is to roll out all the Workforce Holdings clusters in the Botswana market. As the managing director and reporting to the board of directors, she provides market insights and strategic advice, developing and implementing business plans to improve cost efficiency, maintaining positive and trust-based relations with business partners, shareholders and authorities as well as overseeing the company’s business operations and financial performance.

  • Ravi Srinivasan
    Mrs. Neo Bogatsu (Non-Executive Member)
    Jay Ramesh

    Mrs. Neo Bogatsu

    (Non-Executive Member)

    Mrs. Neo Bogatsu joined Botswana Insurance Fund Management (BIFM) in 2011 as Chief Finance Officer. She currently holds the position of Chief Executive officer. Prior to joining BIFM, she was with Barclays Bank of Botswana for more than 10years, where she worked in the finance and Business Analytics department, holding different positions from middle to senior management level. She started her career with Ernst and Young in 1996, where she trained and became a Chartered Accountant. She is an Executive MBA graduate of the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business. Neo is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and the Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants. She holds a B. Com (Accounting) Degree from the University of Botswana. In addition to her role as CEO of BIFM, she serves as a director in various boards of different industries from financial services, Property management and development, and education