Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)

I have recently joined the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at BIUST. This is a brief introduction to the place.

The BIUST admin building

BIUST (Botswana International University of Science and Technology) is the newest addition to Botswana’s tertiary institutions. It was established in 2005 and teaching commenced in 2011 with the class of 2015 being the first graduates of BIUST. The country also has the University of Botswana in Gaborone (UB) as well as BUAN (Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources), also in Gaborone.  UB is a comprehensive university, while BIUST is focused on science and technology, with the main aim of delivering postgraduate degrees and thus has a strong research focus.

BIUST is in Palapye, which is currently still classified as a village, 260 km north of Gaborone and 160 km south of Francistown on the A1 (the main north-south highway). The closest border post to South Africa is Martin’s Drift/Groblersbrug, 110 km from Palapye, which in turn is 100 km north of Lepalale (Ellisras).

Location of Palapye.

Why Palapye? My guess it that is has something to do with the fact that it is in the area where most (if not all) of the country’s presidents are from: the Khamas (Sir Seretse and his son and current president Ian) are originally from Serowe (45 km west) while the former president and Chancellor of BIUST, Festus Mogae, is from Serowe and served as the MP for Palapye. Palapye is next to the A1, more or less halfway between the two mayor centres in Botswana.  It is also the current termination point of the NSC (North-South Carrier) water pipeline while the Morupule coal mine and power station (the only domestic power station) is just across the road. Thus Palapye has a good supply of power and water (although Palapye is currently reliant on ground water and not the NSC).  There are also other mines in the area and the expansion of the village is not inhibited by any natural features.  Judging by the four new shopping malls being built (anchored by all the mayor South African brands) it is definitely an economic growth node.  Thus BIUST is, rather disappointingly, not located in deepest darkest Africa.

Morupule A power station

Morupule B, next door to A.

But that is not the reason why I came to BIUST.  The main reason is on the one hand very simple: because they offered me a job. Of course one can always decline the position, but the challenge of coming to BIUST seemed an interesting one, which also presented lots of opportunities. But I soon realized that the advantage of coming to a newly established university is also in part the disadvantage:  not only you can initiate a lot of new things, but you also have to. I also believe South African Universities (and Universities in general) are in serious need of a rethink on various fronts, but new and creative thinking is inhibited by the established funding and governance structures and the slow turnover of academics. With no established history BIUST seemed like a good place to investigate teaching and learning in the context of a developing nation since BIUST was established to help diversify Botswana’s economy (which is mostly resourced based, but the diamonds will run out in the next couple of decades).