IDM Students Welfare Office engages stakeholders

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 - 19:00

The role of the Students Welfare Office at the Institute of Development Management (IDM) is to enhance the learner’s experience and the development of   well-rounded graduates with highly esteemed professional values and qualities to position them for the world of work. The Office conducts a variety of interventions intended to build and nature students during their journey to transition from high school to the university environment.
Recently, IDM brought together various stakeholders at its Gaborone and Francistown Campuses to deepen collaborations, discuss and evaluate the services they provide the institution, as well as form new perspectives and collaborations during the implementation of planned activities.
Speaking at the event, IDM Country Director, Dr Theophilus Mooko said partnerships form part of IDMs strategy to promote knowledge transfer, create opportunities for learners and also enhance the Institute’s research and innovation. “We are committed to strengthening teaching and learning to enhance superior student experience.”
Ms Gaone Gaosekwe, IDM Students Welfare Officer gave an overview of the services provided by IDM: “Here at IDM, we aim to enhance students’ academic performance, reduce drop-outs and increase retention. We achieve these through a number of interventions and methods applied to shape our learners for the future. As an institution that values our learners, we continually commit to create a memorable learner experience, and to provide supportive and non-judgmental strategies along the way.” 
Some of the many services offered to students by IDM, include personal and clinical support service, which she mentioned involves individual and group counselling; girls’ best space programs such as relationships and unintended pregnancies.
She said: “We provide this service through the support of Humana People to People. We also offer life skills training and Peer Education with the assistance of Men and Boys for Gender Equality. At their age, they are vulnerable and need to be groomed and nurtured to develop confidence and assertiveness, hence these interventions.”
IDM, through its partnership with the Department of Community Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development supports the Government’s broad policy of Affirmative Action. A notable number of students with special needs that is, orphans and vulnerable children, as well as remote area dwellers are absorbed into the institution. To ensure their proper integration into the higher education mainstream and ensuring they cope well with their studies, Ms Gaosekwe says IDM works with Drs’ Aid to link these students with appropriate resources.
“The resources include free medical consultations and treatment, and these are specific to the student’s needs.
The Students Welfare Office also provides career guidance and academic counselling services to give basic life skills such as goal setting to help learners’ ability to focus on the end result, and time management tools to cope with the demanding varsity life. Industry connect sessions also help to empower them with practical skills of what the life beyond school will look like. These, according to Ms Gaosekwe are offered through the support and assistance of Humana People to People and Men and Boys for Gender Equality.
In the Health and Wellness support space, Ms Gaosekwe says a number of interventions targeting the body, mind and soul of a learner are applied. “These include voluntary HIV/AIDS counselling and testing; condom distribution; health screening; use of contraceptives as preventative measures as well as promoting an AIDS free generation.” She added that partners such as Tebelopele Voluntary Counselling & Testing Centre; District Health Management Teams, Journey of Hope and Humana People to people are some of the organizations supporting IDM to offer these services.
The role of the Students Welfare Office at the Institute of Development Management (IDM) is to enhance the learner’s experience and the development of   well-rounded graduates with highly esteemed professional values and qualities to position them for the world of work. The Office conducts a variety of interventions intended to build and nature students during their journey to transition from high school to the university environment.
Recently, IDM brought together various stakeholders at its Gaborone and Francistown Campuses to deepen collaborations, discuss and evaluate the services they provide the institution, as well as form new perspectives and collaborations during the implementation of planned activities.
Speaking at the event, IDM Country Director, Dr Theophilus Mooko said partnerships form part of IDMs strategy to promote knowledge transfer, create opportunities for learners and also enhance the Institute’s research and innovation. “We are committed to strengthening teaching and learning to enhance superior student experience.”
Ms Gaone Gaosekwe, IDM Students Welfare Officer gave an overview of the services provided by IDM: “Here at IDM, we aim to enhance students’ academic performance, reduce drop-outs and increase retention. We achieve these through a number of interventions and methods applied to shape our learners for the future. As an institution that values our learners, we continually commit to create a memorable learner experience, and to provide supportive and non-judgmental strategies along the way.” 
Some of the many services offered to students by IDM, include personal and clinical support service, which she mentioned involves individual and group counselling; girls’ best space programs such as relationships and unintended pregnancies.
She said: “We provide this service through the support of Humana People to People. We also offer life skills training and Peer Education with the assistance of Men and Boys for Gender Equality. At their age, they are vulnerable and need to be groomed and nurtured to develop confidence and assertiveness, hence these interventions.”
IDM, through its partnership with the Department of Community Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development supports the Government’s broad policy of Affirmative Action. A notable number of students with special needs that is, orphans and vulnerable children, as well as remote area dwellers are absorbed into the institution. To ensure their proper integration into the higher education mainstream and ensuring they cope well with their studies, Ms Gaosekwe says IDM works with Drs’ Aid to link these students with appropriate resources.
“The resources include free medical consultations and treatment, and these are specific to the student’s needs.
The Students Welfare Office also provides career guidance and academic counselling services to give basic life skills such as goal setting to help learners’ ability to focus on the end result, and time management tools to cope with the demanding varsity life. Industry connect sessions also help to empower them with practical skills of what the life beyond school will look like. These, according to Ms Gaosekwe are offered through the support and assistance of Humana People to People and Men and Boys for Gender Equality.
In the Health and Wellness support space, Ms Gaosekwe says a number of interventions targeting the body, mind and soul of a learner are applied. “These include voluntary HIV/AIDS counselling and testing; condom distribution; health screening; use of contraceptives as preventative measures as well as promoting an AIDS free generation.” She added that partners such as Tebelopele Voluntary Counselling & Testing Centre; District Health Management Teams, Journey of Hope and Humana People to people are some of the organizations supporting IDM to offer these services.