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The University of Botswana (UB) has placed energy security and resilient campus infrastructure at the centre of discussions on the future of higher education, drawing attention to the role of sustainable investment in keeping universities operational amid growing financial, infrastructure and security pressures.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Higher Education Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) 2026 Conference on the 13th of October 2026 at UB, Chief Operating Officer, Mr Dawid Katzke, cited the University’s solar energy initiative as an example of how infrastructure investment could strengthen institutional resilience and support continuity of operations. 

The discussion, held under the theme “People, Safety and Institutional Resilience,” brought together leaders from universities and TVET colleges to consider campus security, labour relations, student welfare, infrastructure risks and financial sustainability. It placed facilities management at the centre of wider institutional concerns, demonstrating its importance to creating safe, functional and sustainable learning environments.

For UB, the discussions spoke directly to the demands of sustaining university operations while advancing institutional performance. Reliable infrastructure, energy security and safe campus environments are essential to supporting teaching, research, student welfare and the wider university experience.

Meanwhile, HEFMA Southern Africa President, Ms Hlamarisa Kubayi, called for stronger benchmarking, accountability and continuous improvement in facilities management, alongside closer partnerships between universities and TVET colleges. Such collaboration, she said, could help institutions share expertise and improve facilities management practices across the sector.

Dr Jabu H. Mphurpi of Tshwane University of Technology also presented on developing a competency framework and recruitment pathways for facilities management, highlighting the need to strengthen the professional capacity required to manage increasingly complex institutional infrastructure.

The four (4) day conference was hosted by UB under the theme “Maturing of Facilities Management in Higher Education.” It also marked the 25th anniversary of HEFMA which supports the development of facilities management across the higher education sector in Southern Africa.

For UB, hosting the regional gathering provided a platform to contribute its operational experience to sector-wide discussions on building institutions that are safer, more sustainable and better equipped to withstand disruption.