6 hours agoBAC transformation to School of Business Sciences explained

Botswana Accountancy College, a name synonymous with business and accounting education in Southern Africa, has entered a bold new chapter. As of February 15, 2026, the institution officially rebranded itself as the Botswana School of Business Sciences (BSBS), marking a strategic shift to reflect the evolving demands of the business world. This transition signals more than just a name change; it heralds a comprehensive transformation in the institution’s identity, academic offerings, and regional ambitions under the leadership of Acting Executive Director Dr.

Tebogo Magang. The decision to rename Botswana Accountancy College to Botswana School of Business Sciences stems from a recognition that the business environment is no longer static. “Our world is changing rapidly, and so must we,” Dr.

Magang explained. “Accounting remains a core pillar, but business education today demands a broader, more integrated approach to management, finance, technology, and entrepreneurship.” BSBS aims to position itself as a comprehensive, multidisciplinary business school that equips students to navigate the complexities of the modern economy, driven by innovation and cross-sector collaboration. This rebranding is part of a larger vision to expand geographically and academically.

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Botswana’s economy, after weathering contractions in the past two years, is poised for a rebound in 2026, growing by an estimated 3.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Finance. This economic recovery underscores the need for a workforce adept in business sciences to support sustained growth, diversification, and innovation. BSBS’s transformation aligns with this national imperative, preparing graduates to contribute not only to Botswana’s economy but to the broader Southern African region.

Indeed, BSBS is already extending its footprint beyond Botswana’s borders. The institution has entered the Namibian market through a collaborative program with the University of Namibia (UNAM), one of the country’s leading universities with a strong focus on business management, governance, and economics. This partnership aims to offer BSBS’s specialized programs within Namibia, blending regional expertise and resources to serve a growing demand for quality business education in Southern Africa.

The collaboration leverages UNAM’s established infrastructure and BSBS’s evolving curriculum to create new opportunities for students across borders. Further south, BSBS is advancing into Lesotho, where significant progress has been made toward establishing a presence in the country’s education landscape. Lesotho’s government has prioritized economic growth and employment creation in its strategic development plans through 2026, making business education a critical element of national development.

BSBS’s entry into Lesotho is timed to meet this demand for skilled professionals who can drive entrepreneurship and enterprise development in a market hungry for innovation and economic diversification. The academic programs at BSBS are designed to reflect this broad, multifaceted approach. Beyond traditional accountancy, BSBS offers degrees and diplomas across finance, business management, procurement, taxation, project management, and hospitality.

Professional qualifications, such as those in association with international accounting bodies like CIMA and ACCA, remain a strong feature, but are now complemented by programs that respond to the interdisciplinary nature of business challenges today. Magang also emphasized the institution’s commitment to evolving into a fully-fledged university. This final phase of transformation signals BSBS’s ambition to elevate its status from a specialized college to a comprehensive university, capable of delivering research-led education and producing leaders across various sectors.

Achieving university status will enhance BSBS’s capacity to attract research funding, foster innovation, and deepen its impact on regional economic development. The timing of this transition is notable, coming at a moment when Botswana is focused on economic diversification beyond its traditional reliance on diamond mining. The government’s agenda emphasizes building human capital and enhancing the business environment to support new sectors such as technology, services, and manufacturing.

In this context, BSBS’s expanded role as a business school aligns with national priorities, offering programs that develop the skills needed for emerging industries and a knowledge-based economy. Regional integration is a core theme in BSBS’s strategy. Southern Africa’s economic landscape is increasingly interconnected, and education is a key vehicle for fostering collaborative growth.

This regional outlook also prepares students to operate in an integrated African market, where understanding cross-cultural business practices is crucial. The transformation of Botswana Accountancy College into the Botswana School of Business Sciences also reflects broader trends in African higher education. Across the continent, business schools are evolving to meet the needs of dynamic economies, incorporating digital skills, sustainability, and entrepreneurship into their curricula.

BSBS’s shift mirrors this continental movement, seeking to blend traditional academic rigor with practical skills and innovation that respond to current and future business realities. As BSBS moves toward university status, challenges remain. Expanding academic offerings requires investment in faculty, infrastructure, and research capacity.

The institution must maintain quality and accreditation standards while scaling operations across multiple countries. Nonetheless, the leadership is confident that the institution’s history, combined with its forward-looking strategy, provides a strong foundation for this next phase. Looking ahead, Botswana School of Business Sciences aims to be a beacon of business education in Southern Africa, nurturing the leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals who will shape the region’s economic future. The transition from Botswana Accountancy College is not just a rebranding, it is a bold statement of intent to respond to a changing world with agility, relevance, and a commitment to excellence.

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