About IDM
The Institute of Development Management (IDM) was established in 1974 to address human resources needs in Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini (BOLESWA). The institution was mandated to provide management development training for public service. Additionally, IDM conducted research and consultancy services in the three countries and the SADC region. A a brainchild of the BOLESWA forebears. Botswana’s founding President, Sir Seretse Khama, Lesotho’s King Moshoeshoe II and King Sobhuza II of Eswatini IDM was their shared vision as they took their then three small nations from the colonial era into their sovereignty in 1966 (for Botswana and Lesotho, and 1968 for Eswatini).
For the three visionaries, the idea of a regional institute helped them to combine their meagre resources and offer in-service short-term human resource up-skilling programmes, mainly in the civil service.
As the three economies grew over the years, IDM also evolved to meet the changing human resource needs. The Institute transformed into a fully-fledged institution of higher learning, offering courses from certificate, diploma, degree to masters level.
In 2024, a decision was made by the three Governments to end the 50 years tripartite relationship, allowing the individual campuses to operate independently. This significant step saw the dissolution of IDM Regional Body, whose role was to oversee the operations of the three campuses. Botswana Campus remained under the leadership of Country Director, who reports to the Board of Directors.
Our Mandate
IDM offers a variety of franchised and indigenous programmes that have a local, regional and global reach. We provide unique and relevant products and services that respond to the needs of our customers. In addition to our pre-service programmes, we also offer Executive courses tailor-made for senior management, middle management and support staff to upgrade their competencies and enhance their commitment to lifelong learning. IDM further helps BLS governments meet their management needs and assist them make relevant policy decisions through research and consultancy services.
Our Services
- Improve the managerial knowledge and skills of persons charged with senior responsibilities for development in the public, parastatals and private sectors;
- Provide management consultancy to organisations in the public, parastatals and private sectors;
- Review and optimise organisational structures, administrative and management procedures and development policies related to social and economic needs;
- Improve the information and analysis available for decision-making with respect to development; and
- Extend public awareness and encourage public involvement in all aspects of management.
Vision
IDM will be the leading provider of quality education, training and management development by 2027.
Mission
In pursuit of excellence, we deliver education, research, training and consultancy to contribute impactful knowledge and skills, locally and globally.
Our Shared Values and Culture
Our shared values define who we are and what we stand for as an Institute. They further inform our actions and our behaviours, effectively being the lens through which our customers see us. They determine the way in which we interpret and respond to business opportunities and challenges.
Team work: We enhance collaborative activities and value collective effort in building efficiencies.
Integrity:Â We uphold ethical values of honesty, trust and responsibility in all our actions Innovation In response to the demands of the ever changing business environment, we embrace actions, attitudes and culture necessary to create new ideas which will be implemented to deliver a high performance.Â
Professionalism: We demonstrate competence and capacity to deliver results, with dedication to our customers with efficiency and effectiveness.
Excellence: We pursue knowledge and service delivery within the highest quality standards.
Diversity:Â We thrive in a range of interactions, cultural backgrounds, views and opinions to enhance unity in diversity.
Strategy
The IDM 2022-2027 Strategic Plan marks our trajectory and cements our presence in the Region. This is a robust build-up on our 2016-2021 Strategic Plan and will strengthen our essential character as an Institute of choice. The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan is bold, aspirational and inward focused to maximize on the garnered gains and position IDM as the innovative Institute, locally and globally. Deliberate effort shall be channeled into fostering our strengths, building the tripartite and promoting excellence across business imperatives especially in education, research, consultancy and training. The 2022-2027 Strategic Plan will demand the very best from us all. Having bolstered the set of institutional values that, when sewn into our corporate culture and lived, are capable of enriching our stakeholder experiences, there is a need that we reaffirm our presence. We hence renew our undying commitment to excellence and institutional effectiveness and remain confident that we are well positioned to contributing to the national agendas and national strategic priorities. On behalf of IDM, I would like to appreciate the efforts put in crafting this plan, from the board of directors, executive committee, management teams, staff, students, alumni and previous employees who constructively contributed their views. Thank you for your time and your contributions. We look forward to implementing the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan to set IDM apart and distinguish it in the years to come.
The strategic goals we have committed to pursue, are underpinned by three strategic themes being: Striving for Excellence; Enhancing Collaborations and Partnerships; and ensuring that Good Governance prevails.
Our Goals are:
1)Â Excellence in teaching & learning: We will invest in digital transformation to facilitate an interactive and student-centered modern learning methodologies.
2) We will offer superior student experience by providing adequate resources and a social/intellectually challenging environment.
3) Build a strong local and international profile: We will leverage on our tripartite establishment to strengthen our local footprint and global institutional links.
4)Â Excellence in research, publishing and consultancy:Â We commit to develop knowledge through research and will promote publication to enhance professional collaboration.
5)Â Institutional effectiveness and efficiency:Â In pursuit of excellence, we shall enhance and entrench efficient operational practices to support our mission and maximize our effectiveness
Partnerships
We have built formidable networks world-wide. Through our collaboration with internationally recognized institutions around the world, our learners have access to students exchange programmes to enhance their learning experience. Partnerships strengthen our collaboration on research and enhance our effort to develop world-class programmes.
- Indiana University:Â We have partnered with Indiana University on Public Health programme. We have also conducted a number of research studies that have been published. We are also working on building collaborative projects around business development and entrepreneurship with Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.
- Ohio University:Â IDM and Ohio University are collaborating more around research, faculty and students exchange. IDM is now the link for Ohio information repository which was initiated by Former President of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire through his long standing relationship with Ohio. IDM is doing this to support Botswana brand in the international stage by availing research information that will make the country known in the US and beyond.
- Bolton University:Â As IDM wants to strengthen its graduate level, Bolton has become our other important partner. We are currently running two Masters programmes with Bolton.
- Galilee International Management Institute (Israel): Further afield, IDM has embraced what Israel has to offer, mainly in the field of agriculture. After decades of Research and Development, Israel has become a veritable oasis and a net exporter of food, especially fruits and vegetables, as well as winery products. With the quest to find relevant and innovative solutions, IDM is facilitating collaboration between the Government of Botswana and Israel’s Galilee International Management Institute to sponsor 100 Batswana students each year to undergo short-term training in various fields, including dry land farming, integrated water management, desert greening, advanced dairy farming and farm management.
- The Republic of Gambia:Â Republic of Gambia through its embassy in Pretoria has sort collaboration with IDM to find ways through which they can partner with an institution of similar nature during their transformation to rebuild their public sector and human resource needs in general. Gambia is an emerging economy facing socio-economic and political challenges in the backdrop of a previously unstable political landscape.
- Namibia Business School (University of Namibia):Â Partnering with IDM on Capacity Building for IDM staff and offering postgraduate studies.
- Boitekanelo College:Â Offering Emergency Medical Care in Eswatini campus
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Other Partners
We have other collaborating partners in the SADC region such as Malawi Institute of Management which support and strengthen our product offering and service delivery. In addition, IDM partners with professional bodies such as Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) and National Computing Centre (NCC) among others.
Accreditation
IDM is a registered and accredited training institution as recognised in the ambit of statutes in the countries where it operates. Each of the IDM campuses is registered as a separate entity in its own country, supporting their national agendas.
Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA); Council for Higher Education (CHE) in Lesotho; and Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC), are regulatory and quality assurance bodies set up to help training providers meet and adhere to set quality standards.
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