Bridging the gap between the classroom and the boardroom: Jindal and New Era College provide a blueprint for Botswana
Issue #12: Employability is priority number one for today's graduates. This new partnership answers our society's loudest call.
Jindal is a global conglomerate known for its pioneering work in diverse industries: steel, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and many others.
Did you know that Jindal is also the force behind the largest ever inflow of foreign direct investment into Botswana? The BWP28 billion Mmamabula coal energy project which broke ground in one year ago in will, when complete, bring energy self-sufficiency to the nation.
A recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between Jindal and New Era College offers our students access a rich vein of career opportunities — both locally and abroad.
These avenues are available in the form of industrial attachments, internships and employment prospects within Jindal’s various sectors — most notably in geology, mining and energy.
When done right, partnerships between industry and academia can deliver transformational change in the lives of students who step up to the challenge.
Take a look.
Innovative breakthroughs
By merging academic research with industry expertise, these partnerships often spark cutting-edge solutions, practical innovations and new levels of value creation.Skilled Workforce Development
Collaboration with an industry leader like Jindal equips students with real-world skills and insights which they can leverage immediately upon entering the workforce. In many cases, they begin their working lives far ahead of their peers.Mutual Growth and Shared Knowledge
These alliances foster a culture of continuous learning and shared expertise which set new standards for excellence and growth.
The partnership also accelerates New Era’s broader ambitions to become a leading centre for research excellence. With access to Jindal’s advanced technology and industry insights, the College is positioned to take on projects that address complex, real-world challenges.
Guest lectures and industry-focused workshops will further amplify the benefits of this collaboration. Events like these bring industry realities into the classroom, allowing students to engage directly with experts and gain firsthand knowledge of global trends and practices. Invaluable exposure.
Upon successful completion of their studies, selected students from engineering disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Geology) will have the opportunity to embark on internships within the Jindal family of organisations.
And thereafter? Full-time employment with an international conglomerate may beckon.
“At New Era College, we define ourselves by our ability to align learning outcomes with specific industry needs. Graduates emerge from our hallways fully equipped to succeed in a rapidly evolving world. Our partnership with Jindal underlines this philosophy,” says Managing Director for Institutional Effectiveness, Danesh Sobhani.
A Joint Technical Committee is overseeing the implementation of this partnership, ensuring that both parties meet their objectives.
Jindal Botswana Country Director, Neeraj Saxena, echoes the sentiment. “This partnership marks the beginning of a transformative journey for students in Botswana, bridging the gap between education and the corporate world.”
Elon Musk says Starlink can be “ten times faster”
Musk is seeking approval from the Federal Communications Commission to modify Starlink's Gen2 satellite system.
These upgrades will drive a 10-fold boost in bandwidth taking download speeds to approximately 1 gigabyte per second.
At this moment, Starlink has deployed 5,000 satellites which orbit the planet at an altitude of approximately 500km above the earth’s surface.
Musk wants to increase this number to 30,000 in an effort to accelerate service provision to billions of people globally “who still lack access to adequate broadband," according to Starlink.
Revolutionising conversations for the hearing impaired
Introducing the latest innovation in assistive technology: these smart glasses empower users to "see what others are saying".
Xander Captioning Glasses redefine accessibility for individuals with hearing loss by converting spoken conversations into real-time captions displayed on their lenses.
Leveraging augmented reality (AR) technology, the glasses deliver captions directly within the user’s field of view, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience.
Users have praised the glasses for their transformative impact, describing them as effortless and life-changing. Unlike traditional hearing aids or other devices, Xander Glasses stand out by operating independently of smartphones or internet connectivity, offering unmatched flexibility and preserving user privacy.
Do social media apps need warning labels? The US Surgeon General thinks so
The United States Surgeon General is proposing widespread warnings on social media platforms — similar to the labels on tobacco and alcohol — to caution young people about the mental health dangers of over-use.
Highlighting a growing crisis, Dr. Vivek Murthy describes how apps like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram contribute significantly to escalating mental health issues in adolescents, asserting that these platforms have not been proven safe for young users.
In this fascinating New York Times interview, Murthy cited research showing that adolescents who spend over three hours daily on social media face doubled risks of anxiety and depression.
Murthy challenges social media companies to be more transparent about the psycho-social effects of their platforms, urging them to share data on health impacts with the public — and, crucially, to allow independent safety audits.
Are you ready to become a globally empowered graduate?
Whether your passion lies in Engineering, Business, Science or Education, New Era College will open the world to you.