BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT), one of the country’s premier institutions for technical and vocational education, has successfully concluded the 2024/2025 academic year with several noteworthy achievements and a clear vision for the future.
Established in 1946, ECOT continues to provide quality education in engineering, technology, science, and education. The college offers programs across five faculties: Building and Civil Engineering, Business Administration, Education, Information & Technology, and Engineering Science.
Key Highlights
- The academic year ended without any student class boycotts, signaling improved student engagement and campus stability.
- Year-end final exams were successfully conducted across all five faculties.
- The Faculty of Education concluded its annual teaching practice on June 27, 2025, with students placed in schools across all four regions of the Kingdom.
- ECOT, in partnership with Micro Projects, commenced the reconstruction of its storm-damaged library and lecture theatre.
- In June 2025, the college celebrated the handover of four turning lathes and two milling machines, a donation from the Taiwan Technical Mission, significantly boosting the engineering practical training capacity.
Institutional Challenges
Despite these successes, ECOT continues to face financial strain due to high utility costs:
- The college incurs a monthly water bill of up to E600,000, a burden sourced from the Eswatini Water Services Corporation.
- Electricity costs remain a challenge, with concerns raised over students allegedly cooking in dormitories – increasing power consumption and posing a fire hazard.
Recommendations and Vision
To address these issues, the institution has proposed:
- Outsourcing kitchen services, which could improve safety by discouraging unauthorized cooking in student residences.
- Installing solar power systems to reduce electricity expenses and promote sustainability.
Looking forward, ECOT aims to elevate its status to a full-fledged university, with plans to collaborate with Vaal University in South Africa to help facilitate the transition. This transformation is expected to broaden academic offerings and boost international academic cooperation.
A Bright Future Ahead
ECOT’s focus on practical training, regional engagement, and international partnerships continues to position it as a key player in Eswatini’s higher education and skills development sector. With a strong 2024/25 academic year behind it, the institution is now setting its sights on greater heights in the years ahead.
(Courtesy Pic)
