Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has strengthened its position as a continental leader in health sciences education following a landmark clinical benchmarking session with Botswana’s private institution, Boitekanelo College.
Hosted at SMU and led by acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Dini Mawela, the engagement operationalised the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between SMU and Boitekanelo College in September 2025. The visit marked a major step towards expanding African-led healthcare education partnerships across the SADC region.
Leading the Botswana delegation was Dr Tiro Mampane, SMU alumnus and founder and president of Boitekanelo College, who graduated from the university’s School of Medicine in 2003. Returning to his alma mater more than two decades later, Dr Mampane arrived with an ambitious vision to establish a school of dentistry in Botswana inspired by the SMU model.
“Of course, the journey has been very difficult but fulfilling because obviously I’m very passionate about it. It’s really close to my heart,” said Dr Mampane. “When I was here, I didn’t just learn medicine. I also saw what was going on in SMU. And basically, I want to replicate SMU in Botswana.”
Dr Mampane emphasised that health sciences programmes remain critical in addressing unemployment and strengthening healthcare delivery across the region. “Health programmes… the advantage about them is that currently, the sought-after employment rate with them is very high compared to other programmes,” he said.
The visit was coordinated through SMU’s Internationalisation Directorate under the leadership of Dr Carlien Jooste, who highlighted the university’s commitment to active and mutually beneficial African partnerships.
“My department advocates for partnerships that are mutually beneficial and active, which means that we do not enter into partnerships without evidence of collaboration already taking place,” Dr Jooste explained.
She added that the benchmarking visit followed extensive engagements in Gaborone earlier this year, where SMU academics and leadership interacted with Boitekanelo College and other institutions in Botswana. Those discussions showcased the strength of SMU’s dentistry programmes and inspired the current collaboration.
Importantly, Dr Jooste described the partnership as part of a wider shift toward African-centred academic development. “For years, universities in the Global South were dictated to by the Global North on how to internationalise,” she said. “Partnerships with SADC and other African countries now allow us to develop mutually beneficial partnerships on our terms.”
Boitekanelo College plans to implement the project through a phased academic rollout beginning with Oral Hygiene, progressing to Dental Therapy, and eventually introducing a full Dentistry degree programme. Dr Jooste stressed that benchmarking should promote adaptation rather than duplication.
“Benchmarking is not a copy-and-paste exercise,” she noted. “It is a learning exercise that allows you to take and implement what works for your programme and institution.”
The partnership framework also includes student clinical rotations, staff exchanges, collaborative teaching opportunities, and joint research initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare systems across borders.
Following tours of the SMU Dental Hospital, the Botswana delegation acknowledged the scale of investment required to establish a world-class dental programme. However, the engagement reinforced confidence in the partnership’s long-term impact.
As discussions expanded into future regional community dentistry projects and collaborative healthcare initiatives, the benchmarking session reaffirmed SMU’s growing reputation as a premier African institution advancing excellence, innovation, and transformation in health sciences education.
By Rose Moreki
